When Mary and Vanessa Douglas opened Mostly Her, a women’s boutique in Minden, earlier this year they had a vision of offering more than just clothing and undergarments to their customers.
Having recently celebrated their sixth-month anniversary in the community, the pair are partnering with a Burlingtonbased clinic to bring post mastectomy services to Haliburton County.
On Oct. 27 and 28, the business will open its doors to Barb Daize and Anne Thompson of Bodymed Boutique, who will be in town conducting specialty bra fittings.
“This is something we’ve been really passionate about for some time – I think bringing a clinic like this to the County is going to help so many people. It’s a service that is not easily accessible for people who live here,” Mary said. “I think this is going to be an incredible learning opportunity for us, and for a lot of our customers.”
Daize, an RPN, and Thompson, a breast cancer survivor, have been working together for about 15 years educating women about the mastectomy process and how they can move forward with their lives post-procedure
“A mastectomy is major surgery that removes the entire breast following a cancer diagnosis,” Daize told The Highlander. “It’s a very personal surgery and can often lead to women mistakenly feeling embarrassed about their situation… we’re here to tell you, there’s absolutely nothing to be embarrassed about.”
Thompson added, “I can relate to people’s stories, what they’re going through after beating the cancer. How they’re feeling mentally and physically. Part of the reason I do this is to share my story and let people know there is a path to feeling comfortable and confident in yourself again.”
Daize, who cottages in the area, said she reached out to the Douglas’ shortly after Mostly Her opened in the spring. While they weren’t ready to host a clinic right away, the possibility piqued their interest. They started planning for an event in the fall.
Private fittings are available by appointment or walk-in. Douglas said she has two scheduled already.
“The event is already a success, because we have people booked already,” Daize said. “It’s at least an hour and a half drive for most women to get to a specialized mastectomy store, so we’re really pleased to be offering this. The education piece is important for us, because Anne and I know of many women who, after a surgery, will continue to wear normal bras, and stuff them with socks or toilet paper.
“Nothing is more sad to me, because these people deserve so much better, to maintain [their dignity],” she added.
Fittings are complimentary, while the Mostly Her team will be on-hand with options should women decide to make a purchase.
And if you can’t make this month’s event, there will be further chances in the future. The Douglas’ have committed to hosting four clinics annually, which Daize said she’s really excited about.
“It means we’ll have a continued presence. We know this is a very intimate thing and people might not be quite ready – there will be other opportunities,” Daize said. “Even though you feel different now, you feel a loss, it doesn’t always have to be that way.”
To book an appointment, contact Mostly Her at 705-2864233
