There’s an empowering message behind this post-mastectomy bra

After having a mastectomy, a woman typically has several choices, two of the most prominent being to have breast reconstruction or to “go flat” and avoid additional surgeries (and recovery time). After one woman had a unilateral procedure that removed one breast at age 42, she decided on the latter option—but when didn’t feel like her confident old self, she created a new post-op choice.

“I missed my boob,” Noelia Morales told Self. “The mastectomy left me in front of the mirror with no joy, wondering how to get back to the woman that enjoyed being naked and enjoyed sex.”

Morales couldn’t find a prosthetic she liked, but when she saw a photo of a woman rocking an eye patch, a mental light bulb turned on. Soon, her brand, Anna Bonny—which just so happens to be an ode to the badass Irish pirate Anne Bonny—was born.

“The metaphor of cancer I liked the most was an adventure rather than a fight, a path life brings with risks and without knowing the end. Patches, pirates, and adventures made total sense to me.” —Noelia Morales, Anna Bonny founder

“When you see a person wearing a patch, you know there is something wrong behind it, but you are in front of someone strong, a rebel, and that’s seductive,” she said. “I went to a shop, bought a bra, cut it in half, and put it over the scar.”

That first mastectomy patch has since transformed into a wide range of options for women (think silky prints and rhinestones) to help other women feel confident about their post-mastectomy bodies. And for those who would rather DIY one, Morales also made the pattern available to download for free.

“The metaphor of cancer I liked the most was an adventure rather than a fight, a path life brings with risks and without knowing the end,” she said. “Patches, pirates, and adventures made total sense to me.”

Thanks to Morales’ empowering innovation, so many women have another way to feel body positive, no matter their post-op plans.

Scientists just took a huge leap in understanding breast cancer’s causes. Also, here’s how to support a friend who has breast cancer, according to Rachel Platten.