I’m so excited to start a new blog series today: Women in Science and Medical Mamas. After sharing a bit of what I do for work recently, I’m so excited that you all want to hear more about clinical research and some amazing women and mamas who either work in the medical field or are closely affected by some area of medicine or science. My plan is to use this series to highlight as many of these amazing women as possible so we can all learn and grow together!
I’m thrilled to feature Kate from Petit Peony in the first edition of this series. Kate is a mama of four beautiful kiddos and owner of a beautiful children’s boutique called Petit Peony. One of Kate’s babies, her sweet Georgia, was unexpectedly born in cardiac arrest, and was the recipient of a heart transplant at just four months old. While Kate balances motherhood and business ownership, she is also dedicated to helping other children with conditions like Georgia’s and their families feel more at home during their time in the hospital through her design of the Georgie – a functional and comfortable replacement for a standard hospital gown or Johnny.
For many children with chronic and/or critical conditions, much of their first weeks and months are spent in the hospital for assessments, procedures, and major operations. With her combination of experiences in childrenswear design and as a mother of a baby who was in the hospital for an extended period of time, Kate’s design of the Georgie is both beautiful and age-appropriate for little ones (unlike the miniature versions of adult hospital gowns, which always feel out of place on children) and, best of all, facilitative of quality and minimally-disruptive care.
The Georgie is MRI-compatible, so there’s no need to change clothes (and all that entails) for scans, was thoughtfully designed to include plenty of room for and access to IVs and other dressings, and is breathable and comfortable in a way that feels more like “real” clothes than a hospital gown. One of the most significant aspects of the design of the Georgie is also that is promotes neurodevelopmental care – something that is so important to many little ones with complex condition who experience neurologic side effects from either their illness, operations they have had, or both. Georgia is followed closely by neurodevelopmental specialists, as are all babies and children who are transplant recipients, so Kate’s attention to this detail is both personal and intentional.
As a clinical researcher and a mother, I can’t begin to tell you how inspiring I find Kate’s work. The time she dedicates to improving the experiences of families like her own is incredible, and Georgia’s story is so inspiring and one that has been beautiful to watch unfold. A portion of all of the proceeds of the sales of the Georgie is donated to regenerative cardiac tissue research at Boston Children’s Hospital – a place and a cause that you all know is near and dear to me for so many reasons. It is because of mothers like Kate and babies like Georgia that we, as researchers and scientists, are able to propel our field forward and improve outcomes – and we can’t thank them enough.
Be sure to read more about the Georgie and the Peach Project and shop Petit Peony online and in Duxbury!
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