Hopkinton nonprofit offers comfort to survivors of abuse with care bags after forensic exams

Survivors of sexual or domestic violence often endure an invasive experience at the hospital.

A medical forensic exam can involve submitting to a head-to-toe physical examination, photographs of injuries and samples collected with swabs, as well as surrendering clothing and undergarments to be tested as evidence for traces of blood, semen or saliva.

Bianca Magnell, a certified Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) from Warner, said those moments of vulnerability don’t end when the exam is over. She has watched patients prepare to leave the hospital wearing stretchy mesh underwear and scrub pants, temporary replacements for the clothes taken into evidence.

“It’s better than nothing,” she said. “But it’s just not ideal.”

Wanting to bring more dignity and comfort to one of the vulnerable moments in a survivor’s life, Magnell joined four others to start The Bravery Alliance. The Hopkinton-based nonprofit provides hospitals with thoughtfully assembled care bags, each meant to make an overwhelming experience feel a little more humane.

“It might seem silly, but being able to hand the patient like underwear and pants that are not from the scrub room makes them feel like a person,” said Magnell, the president of the nonprofit. 

Each care bag includes a new pair of pants and underwear, along with basic toiletries such as a toothbrush and toothpaste. Depending on donations, the bags may also contain comfort items like blankets, plush toys, coloring books, deodorant or personal safety alarms.

The group’s mission grew out of a shared recognition of a gap in post-exam care, shaped by conversations with nurses who said it never felt right to send patients home with only clothing from the scrub room.

“Just noticing the gap and being able to provide comfort in probably one of the most harrowing experiences, or immediately after, is as fulfilling as it gets,” said Kimberly Ruppel, the organization’s treasurer and a Hopkinton resident.

So far, The Bravery Alliance has donated care bags to seven hospitals across the state, including Concord Hospital, New London Hospital and North Country Health. The group hopes to expand within the next year and reach every critical access and acute care hospital in the state.

“We’ve definitely accomplished a lot in the last couple of months, but again, we are only in a fraction of the hospitals we want to be in, so we’re still seeking out those connections and the networking,” said Chelsea Drzymala, the group’s fundraising coordinator.

Magnell wasn’t alone in feeling that survivors deserve more humanized care. At one point, she took it upon herself to purchase pants and underwear to keep on hand, knowing many hospitals simply don’t have the resources to provide them.

“Our goal is to not only help patients who present to the ER by offering them comfort that’s already all put together and can be given to them, but we’re also trying to streamline the process for the nurses and the crisis centers,” said Magnell.

To donate, visit www.thebraveryalliance.org

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