Lending a hand in time of need

While sitting with my daughter who was recovering from routine surgery I overheard a conversation at Prince of Wales Hospital between a Breast Care Nurse and a young women who had just had surgery for breast cancer. The young woman spoke of how difficult she found moving around with the drain still in the wound - it was awkward to carry around. The BCN told her that they used to have  sewing group that made a carry bag for the drains but the group no longer were able to supply the bags. A month later I contacted the wonderful BCNs at POW and we hatched a plan for Girl Guides to make the bags. I had been a Girl Guide for nearly 50 years and I know they are always willing to lend a hand! Since 2014 Girl Guides have been supplying breast care bags free of charge to POW and Royal Hospital for Women. This project has spread all over NSW & ACT with thousands of bags being donated to dozens of hospitals.  In September last year Eastern Beaches Girl Guides sewed over 300 bags and in January over 400 bags were made at a four day camp by the girls in their 'free time'. The Guides who sew the bags never meet the patients who receive the bags but are content in the knowledge that the bag will help in some small way. Last month I told this story to a women I met and she replied "And I am one of those grateful patients who smiled when given a bag and told the Girl Guides had made it for me". This was reward a million times over and reward that is priceless! Donation to contribute to the cost of the tape required to make the bags or of fabric are most appreciated and will facilitate continuation of this project!