Materials are pictured for the surgical drain pouches Tyler resident Kristina Hill Mitchell makes. (Contributed photo)

Tyler resident Kristina Hill Mitchell started making surgical drain pouches after going through breast cancer about a decade ago. Now, Mitchell wants to give pouches to those who need them.

After being diagnosed with breast cancer at 27 years old, Mitchell said she started making her own surgical drain pouches due to the inadequate ones she received from the hospital.

After surgery, it is common for patients to be given surgical drain pouches. These pouches are designed to hold post-surgical drain bulbs after breast surgery. While at home, Mitchell could put the surgical pouch in her pocket but said it’s difficult to keep them in place while in public.

Being able to take care of your surgical drain pouches makes it easier. After patients are properly drained, they can get them taken out. “That feels like freedom,” said Mitchell.

“It’s just nice because it’s one more level of normalcy where you can get back to whatever you’re doing in life and not have to worry about it,” Mitchell said.

As a crafter, Mitchell, now 36, enjoys making the pouches and wanted to create one that was more functional.

“I have a giant craft room, so I went in there going, ‘OK, I’m gonna find something that works here,’” Mitchell said.

She says the pouches are made with a long strap to wear around the neck or as a crossbody pouch.

Every time she went to the doctor’s office, she would make five to 10 pouches to bring and give to other patients who needed them. If she heard from a friend someone was having surgery, she would make a few surgical drain pouches for them.

In the future, Mitchell wants to donate the pouches to a local surgeon’s office or a hospital floor.

Cancer journey

After finding a lump, Mitchell panicked and decided to go to her doctor. Because Mitchell had leukemia as a child, she was doubly at risk for developing another cancer.

“No one believes at 27 you could get breast cancer,” Mitchell said.

Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer for women in Northeast Texas. It is the second most common cause of death for cancer in women, according to the Health Status of Northeast Texas 2021 report.

When Mitchell was diagnosed with leukemia at the age of 10, she was referred to Texas Oncology in Dallas.

“After accidents, cancer is the second leading cause of death in children ages 1 to 14. About 1,040 children under the age of 15 are expected to die from cancer in 2024,” according to the American Cancer Society.

After finding the lump, Mitchell underwent two ultrasounds, a diagnostic mammogram, and a biopsy. After performing all the tests, Mitchell found out she had Stage 1 breast cancer.

Mitchell went through six rounds of chemo and had a double mastectomy because it was likely the cancer could come back. After six reconstruction surgeries, she needed to use surgical drain pouches.

Getting through breast cancer

Mitchell leaned on her husband who was her “rock” during her cancer journey.

“He endured just as much as I did, if not more,” Mitchell said. “I had family support and great doctors.”

Aside from her home life, Mitchell had support at work. Her job at the time allowed her to go in and out as needed.

Medically, Mitchell had a great team of doctors that she credits to helping her get through it all. However, she wishes she had a counselor or therapist as part of her medical team earlier on to help her cope. Since she had trouble finding a counselor in her network, it took over a year after she was diagnosed to find someone.

“I got to start my journey with healing stress and anxiety,” Mitchell said. “I stress to everybody, find that as soon as you get diagnosed because you’re gonna want it.”

Mitchell discovered she had a lump through doing a self-check. She advises women to do routine self-exams, get checked out professionally, and be their own advocate.

“Self-checks are important,” Mitchell said. “I know people downplay the … but you know your body best and you know when something is different. Don’t be afraid to advocate for yourself.”

For anyone interested in the surgical drain pouches, contact Mitchell at the TheKactusBlossom@gmail.com.