At Shriners Children’s Hospital, garment technician Felicia Cowley empowers young patients with custom pressure garments, helping children heal.
SACRAMENTO, Calif — Healing at Shriners Children’s Hospital Northern California comes in many forms. Alongside doctors, nurses and therapists, garment technician Felicia Cowley is helping young patients recover by creating custom pressure garments that make them feel more comfortable — and more confident.
For Cowley, what started as a career in design turned into an opportunity to make a lasting difference in the lives of children recovering from burns and other injuries.
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The custom garments apply consistent pressure to scars, helping them heal over time. But Cowley says their purpose extends beyond the physical benefits.
“I really like how I can help kids be more comfortable in their skin,” she said.
Rather than simply handing patients a medical garment, Cowley involves them in the design process. Children can help choose colors, patterns and other design elements, giving them a sense of ownership over something they’ll wear every day.
“It gets them excited because they have a choice of their input into the design and the creation,” Cowley said. “It’s not just, ‘Here, wear this glove.’ It’s, ‘Here’s the glove you helped decide and make decisions on.'”
That personal touch has made a difference for patients like Damien, a 4-year-old Spider-Man fan. Cowley designed his face mask with red and black colors inspired by his favorite superhero, making it something he was excited to wear.
“When it feels like it’s a Spider-Man mask, it’s way more fun to wear,” Cowley said. “I feel like the red and the black give off Spider-Man vibes.”
She says even the smallest adjustments can have a big impact. During one visit, Cowley noticed Damien’s face mask was rubbing against his lip, making it uncomfortable enough that he didn’t want to wear it.
“I was able to come in and say, ‘Hey, I can fix that part that you’re getting frustrated over,'” she said. “You can see the joy in their face of, ‘Oh, this is comfortable.'”
For Cowley, those moments are about more than improving a garment. They’re about helping children feel empowered throughout their recovery.
“I think the ownership of them being part of the design process makes a difference,” she said. “Ownership over their own healing.”
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