A double mastectomy survivor says that wearing a chest covering bathing suit causes intense pain has won a fight to swim without a top at the public schools of Seattle. 47-year old health buff Jodi Jaecks underwent surgery last year to remove her two breasts for cancer treatment was initially disallowed by a staff to swim topless this year at the Medgar Evers pool in Seattle.
According to Dewey Potter, the spokesperson of the city, a pool signage stated that the facility is for family recreation and proper outfit is required. Jaecks said to Reuters that the pool's other city employees blamed an unwritten city policy that required bathing suits that are "gender-appropriate."
However, acting Superintendent of Seattle Parks and Recreation, Mr. Christopher Williams recently told Jodi Jaecks that on adult lap swims, she will be given a slight exception to swim topless at all public swimming pools because of her physical therapy.
Double Mastectomy
Jaecks who described her currently slim built as resembling that of a young man, said that swimming in a bathing suit that covers her post surgery chest with two thin scars and without nipples gave her scorching pain.
"The Stranger," the weekly newspaper of Seattle recently published a photo of Jaecks on the poolside without a top. Recreation officials of the city asked for a meeting with Jaecks in the coming weeks. They also plan to make a new policy for the attire on their pool together with other experts and cancer survivors, said Potter.
Jaecks did not choose to have reconstructive surgery and she said that she doesn't see the need to have artificial breasts. Jaecks said that her main goal is to change the policy at pools and beaches to increase the awareness of people about cancer and other conditions of men, said Jaecks to Reuters.
