Gilda's Club Hosts Event to Create Comfort Pillows for Breast Cancer Survivors

Detroit Garment Group Guild (DG3) and Angel Pillow Project, along with volunteer designers and sewers, will come together to create a signature comfort pillow for breast cancer survivors on Feb. 3 from 2-4 p.m. at Gilda's Club, 3517 Rochester Rd. in Royal Oak.

Participating designers at the event will also have the opportunity to create their own signature pillow to be later voted on by the DG3 and Angel Pillow Project Foundation boards.  The winner’s pillow will be displayed in hospitals across Metro Detroit showcasing their winning design.

Sabrina Mayhew, wife of Martin Mayhew, the general Manager of the Detroit Lions, is the founder of Angel Pillow Project. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in November 2011, and after her double mastectomy, she received a heart-shaped pillow while recovering from a difficult and stressful surgery.  

Mayhew did not know where this pillow came from but later discovered that a woman named Lorraine Stevens, whose daughter also had breast cancer, made the pillow as a kind gesture for multiple patients in the hospital.  This pillow turned out to be a true gift, providing Mayhew comfort and protection when attempting to find a comfortable position to sit or lay down after surgery, as well as when using a seatbelt, which was very painful due to surgery incisions and bandages. The heart-shaped pillow provided the comfort and padding Mayhew needed.

“The pillow truly improved my recovery and was invaluable as I healed from my breast cancer treatments,” Mayhew said.  “I actually continue to use my pillow today. It helps me get a more restful sleep at night, and I even take it with me when I travel. It's been by my side and helped me through some really rough times. If fact, the pillow helped me so much during my recovery that I wanted to share it with others.” 

Mayhew began making pillows for others, and Angel Pillow Project’s mission quickly grew. Mayhew reached out to Karen Buscemi, founder of Detroit Garment Group Guild, to take the project to the next level.  Buscemi, who is also the editor of StyleLine magazine, suggested adding a twist of style into the pillows by involving the local fashion community.

“Angel Pillow Project is a great cause that helps breast cancer survivors in a very different way than most foundations, which I thought was interesting and fun,” Buscemi explains.  “What better way to put a Detroit stamp on this project than to reach out to our local designers and sewers to create pillows to comfort others?  Our fashion community is very generous, and I believe we’ll get a nice turnout of volunteers.”

Each month pillows are delivered to breast cancer patients across Metro Detroit and made by volunteers. There is no cost to survivors to receive a pillow.  All pillows are funded through Angel Pillow Project Foundation. 

To participate in the Feb. 3 event at Gilda's Club, contact Sherrie Handrinos at 734-341-6859 or SherrieHandrinos@gmail.com

Source: Angel Pillow Project