S&K Group, LLC: Stephanni and Kids Group, a family venture
SoftCrutch™ Padded Crutch Cover founder, Stephanni Hicken shares the story behind the product.

"We have a unique, even bizarre family history. Before my fourth child, Marissa, was born we had never had an accident or surgery in our family requiring a cast. However, due to serious birth defects, when she was only three days old, she was fitted with her first casts. They were on both tiny legs, from her toes to her hips. Over the next eighteen months, the cast was changed every few days. More than a dozen surgeries on her legs and knees kept her on crutches or in a wheelchair through out most of her life. "

"Because of her needs, coupled with accidents and injuries of the other children and even myself, I became all too familiar with the problems of being on crutches over the next several years. From the first, I asked doctors if there were any solution to the pain the crutches gave to the underarm area. I was repeatedly told there was nothing I could buy. "

"Each year, broken bones, sprained ankles, knee surgeries, etc create hundreds of thousands of short-term crutch users. Within hours, each and every one of these users discovers the agony of being on crutches. Most say that the pain of using crutches is sometimes greater than the pain of the original injury. One's underarms become very sore and even chaffed and bruised. The discomfort drives many to 'cheat' and stop using the crutches before their doctor recommends."

"For most people, the experience on crutches is so short-lived and unusual that the need to find a solution is quickly forgotten. Not so for my family. Armed with more experience than the average 60-70 mothers, I was faced again and again with the prospect of helping a child or myself combat the pain and agony of being on crutches. I experimented with several options to cushion the area under the arm. After much trial and error, SoftCrutch™ Padded Crutch Cover was born. At last, something that was comfortable and easy to use and could be changed quickly and washed."

"The product was created for use within our family, but observers urged me to market the product so others can take advantage of a unique solution born from unusual circumstances."