The Comfort Zone Boutique

Our lives are rich with the beauty we see in the stars at night, friends who help us stand up when we are knocked down and even the adversity we face. We're always learning, even when some of those lessons are painful and problems we would not wish on anyone, even cancer. John Diamond said, "Cancer is a word, not a sentence." If someone you love is fighting cancer, she needs allies and people who are as generous with hope as they are with their time. When someone you love has cancer, it can be hard to know what to do for her-how can we help? Sometimes hope can come in the form of "comfort items", things we might not normally think of as being a big deal, but when they are given to someone who is fighting a disease, they can be tangible hope.

When Gail Ropel worked as a cardiac sonographer, she often had the opportunity to talk to cancer patients and many of the women she befriended told her they were having trouble finding some of the things they needed to make their recovery easier. Simple things like bras that were comfortable or lotions they could use while receiving chemo, especially products that were safe and would help sooth some of their pain. For about fifteen years, Gail kept hearing local women talk of their needs and from these conversations she realized she had to open up a business that would specialize in providing unique solutions and products for women undergoing cancer treatments. Since December of 2005, The Comfort Zone began filling the needs of local women as they have been battling cancer and other diseases.

"I'm inspired by the women I meet. I tell them that there is no right or wrong way to deal with this disease. It's amazing to me when a woman who is maybe just a week out of surgery comes in with a smile on her face and is doing great. I find it very uplifting to be with these women," Gail says. "And the conversations that go on in the store are phenomenal. The Comfort Zone is a safe place where women can come together and share information or talk about what is happening in their lives."

Aside from a wide variety of bras for all women, The Comfort Zone is the only place in the valley that carries "Wicking J Sleepwear" which is great for women with thyroid problems or who are experiencing hot flashes at night. Gail also carries other comfort items from journals to jewelry so that friends can create gift bags or baskets for cancer fighters.

Having been a corporate sponsor for Relay for Life, Gail is committed to donating bras for underprivileged women because she recognizes there is a need for this service and it ties in with her whole philosophy and commitment to helping local women feel good about themselves, so by shopping at The Comfort Zone, you can be part of that network of support and know that your purchase will help benefit others.