Dressed for Success

Published Oct 12, 2016

As a secretary at Memorial Regional Breast Care Center, Dawn Wilson knows the biggest fear on the minds of women can be summed up in five words: “Do I have breast cancer?”

Dawn, a wife, mother and grandmother, doesn’t want any woman to be overwhelmed with a sense of anxiety when they enter the breast care center. Using her artistic talents and fueled by her compassion, she came up with an idea to help patients feel more comfortable in the waiting area. And her idea came in the shape of a woman, so to speak. Dawn purchased a metal dress form in late December 2015 to use as a decorative display in the waiting area.

After nearly 15 hours of work, she created her very first design for the month of December, a Christmas dress made out of evergreen branches. Staff and patients were so blown away by the creativity and quality of her work, that it became more than just a one-time design. Dawn makes a new dress for each month. For example, March’s dress had a spring theme, while July’s dress design carried an Independence Day theme.

“I love it,” says Jennifer Leffel, RT, manager of Memorial Regional Breast Care Center. “Not only do the dresses look awesome, but I love Dawn’s dedication and passion to create something new each and every month.”

Dawn’s creation has taken on a life of its own –– patients take pictures of it. And “it” even has a name –– it’s been dubbed, “Ava, Lady of the Waiting Room.”

While the display helps bring smiles to patients, Dawn sees an even deeper meaning to her creations –– it connects and strengthens the patient-caregiver bond.

“People will walk in and look at it and smile, and that’s what matters the most to me,” says Dawn. “I want them to know we care about them. ‘Ava’ is for our patients and if it’s the one thing I can do for them, then I’m happy.”