The Agnesian HealthCare Foundation is helping make surgery a little less scary for children at SSM Health St. Agnes Hospital through its recent support of a teddy bear comfort initiative.
The donation funds soft, plush teddy bears that accompany pediatric patients throughout their surgical experience – offering reassurance, connection, and a familiar “friend” during a stressful moment.
The Day Surgery team has long seen the benefits of giving young patients a comforting object as they prepare for procedures. “The bears are also used as teaching tools to demonstrate steps like listening to heart sounds or taking blood pressure, providing both familiarity and emotional support,” according to Jen Schmitz, SSM Health St. Agnes Hospital Surgical and Procedural Services director. “Staff also ‘dress’ the bear in matching bandages or casts while the child is in surgery, so it mirrors their experience when they wake up.”
The bears have made a lasting difference for children and families, according to Schmitz.
“Overall, this is accepted well by our pediatric patients,” she shares. Our team will often make a pretend cast or outfit, so the bear matches the patient. Overall, we feel like this helps calm the patient because they can bring it back to the OR with them and the bear comes out looking just like them.”
Beyond the bears themselves, the team has added even more heartfelt touches to make the surgical environment less intimidating.
“We have also had some handmade surgical caps made for the pediatric patients so they can have a more fun hat versus the typical scratchy blue hats,” Schmitz adds.
The Agnesian HealthCare Foundation is proud to help SSM Health St. Agnes Hospital continue fostering a compassionate, reassuring environment for young patients and their families. “Small efforts – whether a teddy bear, a homemade surgical cap, or a friendly smile – make a big difference in helping children feel safe and supported,” according to Deb Winterhack, Agnesian HealthCare Foundation Director of Development.
Deb Winterhack (left), Agnesian HealthCare Foundation Director of Development, joins SSM Health St. Agnes Hospital Day Surgery team members to celebrate a recent Foundation gift to supply soft, plush teddy bears for pediatric patients.