Giving Back: The Anti-Ouch Pouch
By Beth Bradley

In the fall of 2006, breast cancer survivor, K-12 art teacher and Sew News contributor Deon Maas was recovering from a mastectomy. Although she'd tried holding a small pillow to ease the very painful area under her arm, she disliked the fact that the pillow kept one of her hands occupied at all times. It prevented her from getting back to the activities she loved, especially sewing. Right away, the creative wheels in Maas's head began to turn. She combined her ingenuity with her sewing talent and came up with a brilliant solution: The Anti-Ouch Pouch.

The Anti-Ouch Pouch is a wedge-shaped pillow with an adjustable shoulder strap. Maas intentionally designed it to resemble a tote bag so that it can be used inconspicuously in public. It fits much more comfortably under the arm than a standard pillow and provides an angle at which the arm doesn't rub against the body. The shoulder strap leaves the hands free and gives a break to sore arm muscles. The pouch also has an opening so the fiberfill amount can be adjusted for maximum comfort.

Maas showed the Anti-Ouch Pouch to a physician at her local breast health center, who told her that the pouch was a completely new concept and that it had the potential to alleviate the pain of many other mastectomy patients. Inspired to share her great invention on a wider scale, Maas got together with the Central Illinois chapter of the American Sewing Guild. They held an Anti- Ouch Pouch mass production event, working together to create 150 pouches in just one day. Since then, Maas's family and ASG chapter have made and distributed over 500 more. Word about the Anti-Ouch Pouch has begun to spread.

Last July, the ASG chose the Anti-Ouch Pouch as its nationwide service project for 2008. Maas has been thrilled with her fellow sewers's eagerness to reach out to other women during a difficult time. She's hoping that thousands of Anti-Ouch Pouches will be contributed this year, and she needs your help! Find out below how you can join Maas's mission to deliver the Anti-Ouch Pouch to breast cancer survivors nationwide

Anti-Ouch Pouch Tips

• Download directions by going to http://www.asg.org/html/giving.html and clicking on “Anti-Ouch Pouch.”
• Use non-abrasive, non-bulky fabrics, such as woven cotton or cotton flannel.
• Add an optional pocket for an ice bag.
• Don't put appliques or embroidery on the pillow--they can be abrasive to sensitive skin.
• For a nice presentation, place the pillow in a zip-top gallon-size bag. Include a set of instructions and information on local donation sites to help spread the word.
• Keep in mind that women have different body types. Women with more sloping shoulders may need to pin the strap to their clothing to keep it from slipping off. Larger women may need longer straps.
• Hospitals and cancer and breast centers may not have seen the Anti-Ouch Pouch yet, so get in touch to demonstrate how it’s used before you make a donation.
• Organize an Anti-Ouch Pouch mass production event with fellow sewers. Cut out the fabric ahead of time, assign one person to turning and ironing the straps and buy hook-and-loop tape in bulk. You can find it at SewTrue, 447 West 36th Street, New York, NY 10018. A roll of hook tape and a roll of loop tape cost $8.25 each, and are enough to make about 150 Anti-Ouch Pouches.