An extended illness not only effects a person physically, but it can also be hard to cope with emotionally and mentally. When an illness strikes a child, at a the time in their life when they are to be active, happy and full of life, there can be long periods of waiting, resting and visiting doctors. The folks at Moose Heart are helping ease the pain of children with life threatening illnesses through teddy bears.
“There for the little wee ones,” explained Connie Muir, Tyrone resident and member of the Moose Ldge 25, Chapter 1397 Auxiliary. They’re not just any teddy bears, either. They’re Spinoza Bears and they are designed to help children get through the long hours. Muir and a contingent of the auxiliary recently presented one of the bears to a toddler in Antis Township.
Brianna Hinkle, 2, daughter of Paul and Michelle Hinkle, had barely started her life when complications arose.
“We noticed at about six months that she was not growing,” her mother noted. It was learned that Brianna had a tumor . After the operation to remove it she was diagnosed with hip dysplasia and has chronic kidney problems. Three operations later, Brianna is profoundly deaf and a cochular implant, as well. Michelle said the family has logged thousands of miles driving to hospitals.
“We’ve been teaching her American Sign Language,” Michelle said, as Brianna nad her older sister, Sydney, played on the couch. “She’s a handful at times, though.”
The bears, which cost about $150, come with nine tapes that play music and tell stories. The auxiliary and lodge paid for the bear and are hoping to continue to offer the bears to area children who are going through tough times.
“For every five bears that we buy, Spinoza donates one to the Children at Moose Heart, the organization which helps families of sick children and also raises orphans,” Muir said. “We’re waiting to hear of more children in the area.”
Muir said that Altoona Hospital contacted Moose Heart and from there it was only a matter of raising the money.
For Brianna Hinkle, the bear is something to help on those long car rides and hospital stays. Even with their problems, though, Michelle points out that Brianna is lucky. “There are a lot of other children who are so sick and are not as fortunate as Brianna.”
