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Kim B. Caregiver

HOMEMADE LVAD SHIRTS

Wed, 12/14/2022 - 10:37AM

I asked my husband who has a Heartmate 3 to dig out ten old t shirts he will still wear. THis is all he used to wear so he is comfortable in them. Then I got donations of old t shirts from our children and cut them up to make pockets to go on his old t shirts. I sew two pockets under the arms and one in the middle but over to one side to allow for the Hollister. Each pocket has a velcro closing at the top. He just slides his batteries and monitor into these pockets and is comfortable. When we go out he wears another shirt over this t shirt. if you know someone who sews have them look at the design on the LVAD T SHIRTS and copy that layout. He has ten shirts to rotate. I have made a couple of the shirts with flannel pockets for more stiffness for the batteries and to put an extra layer between skin and battery as they put off heat.

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Craig S.

Tue, 06/20/2023 - 12:52AM

Do you have a picture of the t shirts that you made?  My husband has had his lvad for 5 years and more recently he has been uncomfortable with the ones that we have purchased.  It gives him back aches so I think I need to custom make his lvad gear.  He has a Heartmate 3.  This is a few months after you posted so I am not sure you will see this but thank you in advance for posting some pics.  Nancy

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Kim B.

Mon, 06/26/2023 - 1:21PM

I changed the 'pattern' for the way my husband wanted the pockets placed on his tshirts. I had placed them in the front and his back started to hurt, so now I have moved the pockets so they are more in the back...but don't restrict him sitting. I would be glad to share with anyone who would like a more comfortable option for their LVAD. My husband has a HEARTMATE III, but I believe this can be used by different models. Please feel free to email me at kimbiondo60@gmail.com and I can send you this pattern/drawing I have created. IF you do not sew, I would be glad to make one and ship it to see if this works better for you. I will just need the patients T shirt size. 

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Kim B.

Tue, 04/30/2024 - 10:49AM

I have been sending out my pattern via email and text all over the world! There are a lot of LVAD patients who are looking for a comfortable alternative to the shoulder /crossbody bag and to buy a shirt is expensive.

I still make these shirts, if you are interested contact me at kimbiondo60@gmail.com and I will share the patten with u. 

 

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Kim B.

Mon, 08/26/2024 - 10:04AM

As a way of paying it forward I was making T shirts for those LVAD Recipients and caregivers who didn't sew. I would buy two shirts from Amazon to make ONE t shirt, and ship it to them. I asked for NO money and never made one dime on this. I asked if they could reimburse me for the shirts and the shipping since we are down to one income now and I don't make much money. I was happy to help anyone who asked me. 

The feedback has been really good. Some like the shirts, some just say its not for them. That is fine. The T shirt idea came from my husband who was tired of wearing the 'bag', and the shirts on line are so expensive. My husband wore T shirts all of his life so he is comfortable in them. Everyone is different. This shirt is not for everyone. 

I recently spent an entire weekend cutting and sewing several nice shirts and shipped them to a special LVAD recipient. I did more than one shirt thinking they would work well and be appreciated. I never heard one word back, and have asked if they could reimburse me something or give me feedback and still no reply. I spent over $60.00 on this special project and couldn't afford that. Live and learn.

I am sorry to announce that I will no longer be making any more t shirts for anyone and shipping them out. I will continue to share the pattern via email if anyone would like that you can still contact me at kimbiondo60@gmail.com. What started as a ministry to help other LVAD patients has saddened me to the core. Again I apologize.