BROADCASTS.com

Fed up with "drab" hospital gowns while undergoing treatment for breast cancer, Brenda Jones learned how to sew and created her own. Now, her "Hug Wraps" bring joy to patients all over the world. Brenda Jones felt as if her world had ended when she was diagnosed with breast cancer back in October 2008. Being forced to put on a drab, generic, embarrassing traditional hospital gown every time she went in for treatment only made the experience worse. So with a flash of inspiration — and a crash-course in sewing — she decided to do something about it. Much to her surprise, the kimono-style wrap she designed to give herself some dignity in the waiting room started garnering requests from other patients. Today? She's not only recovered, but she can hardly keep up with the demand for her homemade Hug Wraps from cancer patients all over the world. Since that day, Jones had made hundreds of wraps and has even sent them as far as Poland, England and Canada. Although she started making them for free, she admits her resources have become stretched and now she has to ask for a donation. "If people can't afford it, I try to send them one for free but I'm going broke," she says, adding: "I've made over 350 now and a lot of them I have given away for free." To solve the problem, she's in the process of setting up a nonprofit corporation so she can get sponsorship to continue making her much-needed gown-alternatives. "My ultimate goal is to get these to everyone for free -— there's nothing else I would like more." The amazing feedback she gets from her customers, who are either suffering from cancer or have a loved one who is, just inspires her to keep sewing. "Some people don't have the loving family I had when I was diagnosed," she explains. "I think for some people, the wrap is an extension of someone caring and so I put a personal note in with every parcel, saying 'every time you put on this hug wrap I am right there with you.'"