Morton woman creates ‘port shirts’ for kids going through chemo

MORTON (25News Now) - A Morton woman is using a zipper on a shirt to help kids going through chemotherapy feel a little bit more ‘normal.’

Corrina Dea, owner of The Unlimited Stitch in Morton, is collecting shirts and zippers to create ‘port shirts’ for children going through chemotherapy.

“This hopefully - being able to wear something fun, wear normal clothes there, is just one less thing they have to worry about,” said Dea.

The idea came after Dea was asked to create one for a family friend. She owns her own embroidery business, so it seemed like a no brainer. Her other inspiration came from Dea’s mother, who died from cancer in 2019.

“Being able to sew and use that to help out others is a gift that my mom taught me how to do and has always been a part of me,” said Dea.

The shirts are easy for patients to put on, just like a hospital gown. Doctors and nurses can easily access the port on the child’s body to hook them up to medication.

Dea has collected about 150 shirts and zippers, already passing her goal of 100. Creating the shirt is a job that she says would usually cost about $10.

“It’s something that we know how to do and it’s very easy for us, but it makes a huge difference to a kid that has to go to clinic,” said Dea.

This isn’t her first go around helping others using her skills. She and her family sewed and donated more than 2,000 masks to hospitals and schools during the pandemic.

“There was no need to make money off of it, it was helping others. It was what was needed. All the essential workers had to get to work and do things and this was the least I could do,” said Dea.

Now, Dea hopes to finish up making the shirts in about a month to donate to OSF Children’s Hospital of Illinois, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, University of Iowa Children’s Hosptial or anyone in need.

“If someone has a need for it, we are willing to help make life just that little bit easier,” said Dea.

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