Hospital teddy for sick baby made family 'feel seen'

Joe has had his teddy with him ever since he left hospital

A teddy gifted to a baby by a hospital play team made his family realise “we were seen and someone cared”, they have said.

Joe, now nearly aged one, was three months old when he was admitted to Bristol Royal Hospital for Children in early January with a sudden neurological condition.

His mother Deborah initially turned down the offer of toys for him, thinking he was too small and unwell, but later found the blue bear by Joe’s cot.

An appeal on Facebook earlier this month to find the staff member who left the gift was widely shared, and Deborah has now been able to thank him in person.

“Because Joe has been able to take it away with him, every time I see it it reminds me that we were seen and someone cared," Deborah said.

“When he is older we will say ‘this is the teddy that one of the play team gave to you because even though you were tiny you still mattered’.”

Joe was admitted to Bristol Children's Hospital due to a sudden neurological condition

Joe was rushed to hospital after a sudden swelling to the membranes covering his brain, caused by a blood clotting condition.

Deborah and Joe spent a week in the hospital while he underwent tests, a time which she described as incredibly stressful.

As well as being worried about Joe's condition, Deborah said she was also missing her older two children who were at home with her husband more than an hour away.

The mum-of-three added: “It never even occurred to me to get something for Joe because he was such a small baby. I was just in such a bad head space.”

But when she returned from the toilet later that day she found the little blue teddy left in Joe’s bay.

“I never got a chance to say thank you or say how much it meant. Joe has had his teddy with him ever since,” Deborah said.

The hospital’s website explains that its play team is specially trained to help children meet their “social, emotional, developmental and cultural needs” through play.

The teddy was left by Joe's cot in hospital

Deborah’s Facebook post, looking for the person who gifted the bear, received more than 3,000 likes, which she described as “quite overwhelming, but in a good way”.

It eventually came to the attention of Isaac Cooke-Khan - the member of staff who left the teddy.

He responded: “Thank you so much for your message, I am so glad that I was able to help even a little bit.

“This post has had such great feed back for the whole team so it is really appreciated.”

Deborah said: “Hospital is such a horrible place to be - the teddy brought a little bit of fun to the situation.”

Joe’s clotting factors are now normal and he is a “bonny, healthy baby", his mum added.

Head of play services for University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust, Jo Caseley, said: “Each dedicated member of the play team goes the extra mile each day and it was heart-warming to hear this family wanted to thank Isaac specifically for his kindness.

"It shows the impact The Play Team has on all the children and their families.”