After my double mastectomy, I turned my side hustle into a full-time business. We did $60,000 in one month.

"My grandmother died of breast cancer at 40, so I went for my first mammogram at 36. I found out that I had a pre-cancerous growth. Because of my family history, it was very concerning. My doctor told me if I were her daughter, she'd be operating tomorrow. Within weeks, I had a double mastectomy and reconstruction. When I woke up in my hospital room, I thought about the things that made me happy:"

"Before then, I was hand-cutting Skimpies, single-use cotton underwear alternatives, at my kitchen table and delivering them to women I knew. I would say, "I can't wait to be in your pants," and we would laugh and hug. Connecting with these other women was pure joy. I knew, lying in my hospital bed, that I wanted to grow that feeling into a real, full-fledged business."

"I put down the deposit on a mold that would allow us to manufacture Skimpies on a larger scale, all before being discharged. I had just made a massive decision for my health: getting the mastectomy and giving up my dream of having and breastfeeding a third child. I'd lost my breasts, which contributed to my femininity and self-worth, but I'd made it out the other side. Now, I had the confidence to dive into my business wholeheartedly."

A family history of early breast cancer prompted a first mammogram at 36 that revealed a precancerous growth, leading to a double mastectomy and reconstruction. Post-surgery priorities included faith, family, and Skimpies, prompting a decision to pursue the business full-time. Skimpies began as hand-cut single-use cotton underwear alternatives delivered personally to acquaintances, producing joy through direct connection. A deposit for a manufacturing mold was placed before hospital discharge to scale production. The major medical decision and recovery provided the confidence to commit wholeheartedly to growing Skimpies into a larger venture.

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