Mumbai Woman, 73, Makes Free Breast Prostheses for Survivors

When Jayashree Ratan learned that many mastectomy survivors couldn't afford silicone breast prostheses, she picked up her crochet hook and got to work.

The 73-year-old Mumbai resident saw women resorting to handkerchiefs and cotton balls stuffed inside their bras. These makeshift solutions often caused rashes, infections, and painful skin abrasions.

"Women are under such pressure to look a certain way that they have to undergo this pain as well after a traumatic surgery," Jayashree says. "That's why I decided to make crocheted or knitted prostheses."

In 2018, she founded Saaisha India, a volunteer organization dedicated to making comfortable breast prostheses available to every woman who needs one. Each piece is handmade with 100 percent mercerised cotton yarn, designed to be soft on sensitive skin and hypoallergenic.

The prostheses last close to two years and are fully hand washable. They come in different cup sizes and fit securely into mastectomy bras, offering women dignity and comfort during recovery.

What started as a few hours of handwork has transformed into a growing movement. Volunteers across Mumbai now spend their time crafting these essential items, connecting through simple acts of kindness with women they may never meet.

Why This Inspires

By August 2024, Saaisha India had distributed 32,468 prostheses, every single one provided at zero cost. The organization has also made 3,580 beanies for chemotherapy patients.

"We never knew we would touch so many lives by spending just a few hours on each product," Jayashree says. "That is our biggest reward."

Her work proves that solutions to serious problems don't always require expensive technology or massive budgets. Sometimes they just need caring hands, simple materials, and someone willing to see a need and fill it.

Thousands of women across India now have access to comfortable, dignified recovery options because one person decided to act.