Port Princess
At Whip Pediatric Cancer, we believe every little girl deserves to feel pretty, beautiful, and full of magic, even on the hardest chemo days.
Every child deserves to feel seen, brave, and beautiful, even on the hardest treatment days.
What is a Port Princess?
Designed with discreet, easy access to a chemotherapy port, this princess-style dress helps make treatment days a little easier. Instead of having to fully undress or wear something that feels clinical, children can arrive feeling like themselves, or better yet, like royalty.
This thoughtful design allows medical teams to access the port while helping protect a child’s dignity, comfort, and sense of joy. Soft, practical, and magical, the Port Princess Dress is made for brave little fighters who deserve to feel beautiful every step of the way.
The idea for this dress came from love. It was created by Linda, the aunt of one of our Whip Pediatric Cancer kids, Kelly, during Kelly’s fight. Linda saw a need for something that was both functional and uplifting, something that could make treatment a little less scary and a little more special.
What began as one Aunt’s act of love has become a beautiful way to support children and families walking through chemotherapy. The Port Princess Dress is more than a dress. It is comfort, courage, and care stitched together with love.
The Port Princess Dress was designed to:
- Provide easy access to a chemotherapy port
- Help children feel comfortable during treatment
- Preserve dignity during medical care
- Bring joy, confidence, and imagination to treatment days
Our Inspiration: Kelly's Story
Kelly was diagnosed with an extremely rare and aggressive pediatric cancer, but she has never let that define who she is. From the moment she was born, she has been strong, brave, and determined, defying odds, surprising everyone around her, and showing the world just how powerful one little girl can be.
Kelly is the sweetest, smartest, strongest, and most stylish girl there is. She has a heart full of love, a spirit full of courage, and a sparkle that lights up every room she enters.
Kelly is the inspiration and the boss behind Port Princesses. What started with her love of dresses and her need for something that helped her feel both beautiful and comfortable is now becoming something much bigger.
We are so excited to help spread Kelly’s idea throughout the pediatric cancer community, so fellow warriors can stand alongside her in port-accessible princess dresses that let them feel strong, special, and seen. And Kelly, our brave and beautiful princess, is leading the way.
About Aunt Linda
Aunt Linda is a retired teacher with a heart for helping children. She learned to sew years ago while sitting on her mother’s lap, never knowing that one day those simple stitches would become a way to bring comfort, joy, and a little magic to children facing hard things.
When Paula, Kelly’s mom, asked Aunt Linda to add a zipper to Kelly’s princess dress, Aunt Linda found her way to help. Kelly is bravely fighting extraskeletal mesenchymal chondrosarcoma with a HEY1-NCOA2 fusion, and she needed a dress that was not only beautiful, but also port-friendly.
Together, Kelly, Paula, and Aunt Linda came up with a design that worked — a princess dress that allowed easier access to Kelly’s port while still helping her feel special, beautiful, and every bit the princess she is.
What began as one loving request became something bigger: a way to help other children who need port-friendly princess dresses, too. Aunt Linda’s sewing became more than fabric and thread. It became comfort. It became kindness. It became love stitched into every dress.
She is truly one of a kind.