Founded in 2008, Teddy Bears Anonymous gave over 160,000 of these toys to children, whether in hospital, in an ambulance or, more recently, in a police car.
Created by Luke Lawrence in memory of his daughter who died of cancer at age 20, the organization initially depended on soft toys donated by generous people.
Luke Lawrence quickly discovered that some hospitals could not accept them because they were considered to be used
.
He therefore began to order directly from the manufacturer, at $ 4 a teddy bear, to ensure that the toys were perfectly sterilized and packaged in a bag.
Teddy Bears Anonymous disinfected and wrapped bears have no falling parts, such as beads or buttons, allowing them to accompany their young patients in the operating room. (archives)
Photo : CBC / Bonnie Allen
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This way, even the sickest children with weakened immune systems could receive one.
A source of comfort
Among the young sick beneficiaries, we find Kinley Hildebrandt.
The 7-year-old was born with biliary atresia, a liver disease that prevents the organ from evacuating bile.
She has already received fifteen cubs from the charity.
For her, each of them is proof of her courage and the trials she has overcome.
They help me keep smiling when I’m in the hospital
, she says.
Like everywhere else in society, the arrival of COVID-19 has increased restrictions on visits to health facilities, including the offering of gifts and the transport of personal effects.
While a child can always bring their favorite soft toy, blanket or toy to the hospital, the rule changes imposed by the pandemic can confuse parents.
They don’t always have time to pack a bag or learn about the final guidelines, says Kinley’s mother Candis Hildebrandt.
A lot of times Kinley didn’t have any toys with her when we rushed to the hospital
, she recalls. She then received one of these cubs. She hugged him and that reassured her.
In 2019 Kinley Hildebrandt underwent a liver transplant, allowing her to spend much less time in the hospital.
Photo : Candis Hildebrandt
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The mother loves that these disinfected toys can stay with the children when they need to go to the operating room or have a medical imaging exam.
I feel like my daughter is not alone [lorsqu’elle se fait opérer]. It reassures her so it reassures me.
At the Royal University Hospital in Saskatoon, April Brown, director of the registration service, says these sterilized cubs have become even more popular since the start of the pandemic.
In the past, we have often had people taking teddy bears or toys for us to distribute but, unfortunately, we had to refuse for health control reasons.
, she explains. Teddy Bears Anonymous come in a sealed bag direct from the manufacturing plant. “,” text “:” While the Teddy Bears Anonymous ones come in a sealed bag direct from the manufacturing plant. “}}” lang = “en”>While those of Teddy Bears Anonymous come in a sealed bag direct from the manufacturing plant.
April Brown, who helps distribute the soft toys, loves seeing the excitement of children when they receive their new toy.
Obviously, with the masks, we can no longer see their big smile. But I assure you, we can see their joy in their eyes.
Support also for health personnel
Until now, Teddy Bears Anonymous partnered with 15 hospitals across Saskatchewan and 30 ambulance services.
Teddy Bears Anonymous cubs also bring some relief to medical professionals (archive).
Photo : Teddy Bears Anonymous
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Brett Penny, a paramedic from Balcarres, 85 kilometers northeast of Regina, recently gave one of these teddy bears to a little girl with a head injury.
She was a girl terrified of me, this stranger in her house
, he recalls. I was able to give her the stuffed animal and it calmed her down. It gave him a little joy and, for my part, it made things easier for me.
These days, COVID-19 is adding additional stress to first responders. Regina Police Chief Evan Bray says just giving a baby a teddy bear gives you a moment of relief.
Since 2018, the police cars of the provincial capital always have a bear cub with them in case they have to intervene with a child caught in a situation of violence or crisis.
Even in a tragic situation, the plush can bring a smile, a little ray of sunshine to the heart of the child
, testifies Evan Bray. Our officers are no different. It does them good to be able to offer that comfort.
With information from Bonnie Allen
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