More than 400 breast cancer surgery patients have received free recliner loans through Operation Pink Chairs, a Franklin program born from one teenager's family experience.

Olive Bratcher started the program as a Girl Scout Gold Award project while in high school, according to a column by Leigh Williams, executive director of the Williamson Health Foundation, published in the Williamson Herald on Thursday, Oct. 15. After watching her mother undergo two breast cancer surgeries, Bratcher pitched the idea of lending recliners to patients recovering from breast surgery.

"Seeing how much that chair meant to her recovery the first time inspired me," Bratcher said in the column. "Even though it was one of the hardest times for her, seeing her be able to sit in the living room and still be a part of our family provided so much peace for her and for the rest of us."

The program is a partnership among the Williamson Health Foundation, Franklin furniture store Head Springs Depot and Bratcher. It delivers a recliner to the home of a patient recovering from breast cancer surgery at the Williamson Health Turner-Dugas Breast Health Center. Williams described the loan as four weeks, after which the chair is picked up, sanitized and delivered to the next patient.

For patients recovering from procedures such as double mastectomies, sleeping in a standard bed can be difficult because of postsurgical pain, surgical drains and limited mobility. K.T. Tang, a breast cancer survivor and interior designer at Head Springs Depot, described the difference a recliner makes.

"Sitting upright in a recliner just helps ease the pain," Tang said. "The more comfortable you are, the faster you heal."

Seth Hall, co-owner of Head Springs Depot, agreed to manage the furniture logistics after Bratcher had been turned down by other businesses. When Bratcher first pitched the idea, she set a modest goal of two chairs. Hall pushed her to think bigger. The fleet grew to 14 recliners that Williams described as "rarely idle."

Head Springs Depot, which has operated in Franklin since 2010, handles delivery and pickup at no cost to patients. Every recliner in the program is manufactured in Tennessee, Williams wrote.

Bratcher is now a premed student at Rhodes College. The Williamson Health Foundation's website says reservations are available first-come, first-served and require at least two weeks' notice before the requested delivery date. Deliveries are limited to Williamson County and the immediate surrounding areas for Williamson Health patients.

The program relies on donations through the Williamson Health Foundation to purchase replacement chairs. Residents can learn more or reserve a chair at williamsonhealth.org.

Upcoming Franklin community events

  • Sunday, Oct. 18 through Wednesday, Oct. 21: City eWaste waives small-electronics fees.
  • Monday, Oct. 26: Four Franklin authors headline free Porch Talks.
  • Wednesday, Oct. 28: The Factory at Franklin hosts a free trick-or-treat trail.
  • Thursday, Nov. 12: Franklin men's health event on pain management.