Journal of Hope
In 2005, Al McCluney never suspected the abrupt turn in the road that his life took. Active with his family (wife Laura, two daughters, and a son), church community,…
Read MoreWinter 2008: Nothing Beats A Teddy Bear’s Love
During the holidays, patients at Vanderbilt’s Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital will have a cuddly companion to help make the season brighter. Sponsored by the Tennessee Chapter of the Theodore Roosevelt Association and underwritten by The Foundation, the annual Teddy Bear Giveaway provides a teddy bear for each child at the hospital.
“No parent wants to see their child in the hospital, especially at this time of year,” said Bruce Holley of the Tennessee Chapter of the Theodore Roosevelt Association. “These surprise gifts really make a difference. Seeing infants in the neonatal unit with their first teddy bear is a wonderful expression of the holiday spirit.”
Beginning December 19, one thousand bears will be given out, complete with squeaker nose. As an added bonus, the Nashville Zoo will be on hand that day for a special educational outreach program with animals for the children to experience.
Much like The MPCF, the hospital’s focus on research, education and advocacy greatly contributes to its comprehensive, state-of-the-art care, delivered in a nurturing, family-centered environment. Vanderbilt’s Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital truly is a place that gives children a caring atmosphere in which to hope and heal.