Dad’s Genius Idea Helps Sick Kids In Hospital Feel Like Superheroes!

Nothing is as heartbreaking as having to watch a child suffer in hospital. One dad turned that heartbreak into a genius invention to help put a smile on children’s faces and help them feel like superheroes!

Jason Sotiris’ daughter Angela had spent months on end at The Children’s Hospital in Westmead, Sydney and the sight of her suffering was almost too much to bear. His precious girl was in hospital being treated for multi-system Langerhans cell histiocytosis, a rare disease for which she had been given only a 20 per cent chance of survival after being diagnosed shortly after her first birthday.

“She woke up, she coughed and she threw up and she started to cry,” Mr Sotiris said of a time he was attending to her in hospital. “I was trying to change her … the more I moved her the more upset she got, because she was so weak from the chemo.”

It was this difficulty in dressing her that gave Mr Sotiris an idea. What if there was an easier piece of clothing for kids to wear in hospital that also made them feel like superheroes?

“I thought gee this is so bloody hard, why can’t there be something that it makes it easier for the parents to change?” he said.

 

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Supertee. The new medical garment for sick kids received a prestigious Good Design Award Winner Accolade in the Social Impact category in recognition for outstanding design and innovation. The annual Good Design Awards is Australia’s most prestigious international Awards for design and innovation with a proud history dating back to 1958. The Awards celebrate the best new products and services on the Australian market, excellence in architectural design, engineering, fashion, digital and communication design and reward emerging areas of design strategy, social impact and design entrepreneurship. The Good Design Awards Jury spent several days evaluating each entry according to a strict set of design criteria which covers ‘good design’, ‘design innovation’ and ‘design impact’. Projects recognised with a Good Design Award must demonstrate excellence in all areas and convince the Jury they are worthy of recognition. Dr. Brandon Gien, CEO of Good Design Australia said: “Receiving a Good Design Award at this level is a significant achievement given the very high calibre of entries received this year.” “Australia’s Good Design Award is more than a symbol of design excellence, it represents the hard work and dedication towards an innovative outcome that will ultimately improve our quality of life. These projects showcase the brilliance of design and the potential it has to improve our world,” said Dr. Gien. The Good Design Awards Jury praised Supertee. The new medical garment for sick kids commenting: “ The Jury recognises the use of a collaborative design approach addressing a significant social issue. There is so much to love about this project – the passion, dedication and commitment to bring an idea like this to market should be applauded at the highest level. The Jury commends the use of a robust prototyping process which has resulted in a product that is easy to use in a hospital environment and which appeals to a child’s and their careers emotional needs in a difficult period. This is a shining example of good design making a positive difference to people’s lives when they need it most. Well done! ” . . Not bad for a couple of tradies!…

“And that’s when the light bulb went off.” That’s how the Sydney tradie Dad came up with the idea for Supertee and along with his childhood friend Yusuf Muklis set to work designing a range of superhero-inspired garments for children.

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Repost @carditt : “We don’t know how strong we are until being strong is the only choice we have. Together, the fight is possible”. #worldcancerday #raisecancerawareness #fucancer #acutelymphoblasticleukemia #family #friends #love #supertee #thesuperteeproject

 

The clever design helps to raise children’s spirits as well as making it easier for doctors and parents to access and change the child. The capes double as bibs, there are side openings for tubes, access lines and temperature access and they are 100 per cent cotton.
Supertee was launched in 2018 and since then has helped give sick kids in hospitals across Australia a reason to smile.

Anyone can buy a Supertee pack from the website and Mr Sotiris will deliver it to a child in hospital, not taking any profit  from the sale in the process.

 

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. ⚡️“Every Superhero Deserves A Costume”⚡️ . Introducing the Supertee™ The latest innovation in children’s medical garments designed to build courage and comfort, as well as boost funding for research into childhood cancer and diseases! . Equipped with features that will help little heroes face the toughest of battles: . ?100% cotton ?Xray *, MRI and Pet Scan Friendly ?Cape designed to also be used as a bib ?Shoulder and side access for cables and tubes as well as easy removal of the shirt without disturbing child ?Packaged in a cool tin which also includes a custom comic and activity book, morale boosting themed stickers and a bookmark with a message to the parents! . Supertees can be purchased through our website. You can also sponsor a Supertee to a child in need. Check out our website for more information at www.supertee.com.au *Studs may display as imaging artefact #supertee #the_supertee_project #superhero #medical #health #children #sickkids #courage #hospital #fun #innovation #community #love

 

Mr Sotiris says that because of the Supertee parents can now “walk into rooms where they had bad memories and replace them with beautiful memories.”

Angela is now eight years old and thriving!  “She loves school, she loves hip-hop, she loves her TikTok, she loves makeup,” Mr Sotiris said. “She never stops talking and she wants to be nurse someday.”

For more information on the Supertee click here.

Images: Instagram