A Beary Special Day at GiGi’s: Our First Teddy Bear Clinic

Early May, GiGi’s Playhouse Cleveland transformed into something truly magical: a pop-up pediatric hospital where teddy bears and stuffies were the patients and our participants became the caregivers. Our first-ever Teddy Bear Clinic was a roaring (and snuggly) success, and we couldn’t be more proud of what this day meant for so many of our families.

The purpose of a Teddy Bear Clinic is simple yet powerful: to help children become more familiar and comfortable with medical settings by flipping the roles, which gives them the chance to be the doctors, nurses, and caregivers instead of the patients. For children with Down syndrome and other disabilities, doctor visits, lab tests, and medical procedures are far more frequent than for most of their peers. That makes positive exposure like this not just helpful but essential.

Our clinic featured interactive stations that covered a range of real-life medical experiences. From checking vitals and running labs to performing sonograms in cardiology, stitching up wounds in the ER, and even casting broken “bones” in orthopedics. Our young medical professionals were hands-on, curious, and compassionate. To top it off, every child earned a Certificate of Achievement, signed by every medical professional who volunteered, and left with a giant Care Bear, generously donated by CloudCo Entertainment and Board Member Anna Haddad.

Board Member Carrie Litten, who helped bring this event to life, shared her joy in seeing how impactful the experience was for both children and volunteers alike:

“There were so many things that made me happy that day. I loved seeing the kids interact with the JCU nursing students. What an incredible opportunity for them as future healthcare professionals. My favorite moments included a boy who kept trying to look in a student’s throat, and watching Jane’s energy transform into calm focus as she used the ECHO on her bunny rabbit. It was fun to see every child find the station that spoke to them most.”

One mom, Jodi, shared a particularly touching story about her daughter Olivia, who was understandably anxious when she saw people in scrubs and stethoscopes, just like during her real medical appointments. Thanks to the warm, exploratory, and welcoming environment and caring volunteers, Olivia relaxed and engaged joyfully. Olivia loved taking care of her favorite stuffed Otter and being on the other end of a typical medical appointment. She smiled and laughed and watched over how the volunteers at each station showed care for her Otter Friend and went through many of the same experiences Olivia had herself experienced.

Jodi shares: “My favorite moment was in “cardiology”, where Olivia learned how to properly hold the ultrasound wand and as she ran it across her little Otter’s heart, focusing carefully on the screen, she also gently placed her other hand on her Otter’s leg and patted it gently, even giving its foot a kiss at one point, perfectly mimicking the loving attention we have given Olivia as she has had an echocardiogram, dental appointments or lab work. I was teary as I realized she didn’t just sense the fear or nerves of the situation, but she recalled the love she has received and gave it right back to her little stuffed friend!!”

Other families echoed the same sentiment as Cam’s mom, Adelaida, said: “Our boys loved the experience and are already looking forward to the next one. They were medical professionals for the day!” Another parent said: “As a parent of a child with special needs, this clinic was genius. It was more than fun, it was therapeutic. The sleep station was especially helpful since we have a sleep study coming up soon.”

The Teddy Bear Clinic wouldn’t have been possible without the generous support and enthusiasm from so many. A heartfelt THANK YOU to our incredible volunteer partners from Akron Children’s, John Carroll University’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing program, and Board Members Carrie and Anna for helping to bring this vision to life.

We’re already dreaming up our next Teddy Bear Clinic, and we can’t wait to welcome more fluffy friends and their brave caregivers. Until then, thank you for believing in what we do at GiGi’s, as we strive to create meaningful, inclusive, and empowering experiences for every individual who walks through our doors.