26 September 2024

Two Teddy Bears in their 70s were discharged from my Hospital in the last couple of days after successful surgery.

First out was Teddy, a remarkably well preserved 71-year-old traditional Pedigree bear. He regained his voice, having been fitted out with a new growler, and, after a good clean, had his nose re-embroidered.

The other bear, though only a few years older, arrived in a considerably worse condition. This was only to be expected, as he was made of sheepskin, and this material deteriorates quite badly with age. Both his arms and part of his face had to be re-created with new matching sheepskin.

Once this reconstructive surgery and some smaller operations were completed, I re-embroidered his nose and smile, restoring him to the look that his owner remembered from years ago.

7 September

Sasha's Teddy Bear Hospital is up and running again after a summer break. My first task upon my return was to complete the treatment of one patient who had been waiting patiently for the arrival of a new pair of eyes.

28-year old Teddy looked rather flat when he arrived from Ireland some weeks earlier, wearing his pyjamas, and the picture was even more bleak after the pyjamas came off. It was clear that he needed intensive care.

To bring Teddy back to life, I made him a new body of soft cotton, exactly following the original pattern. I then gently cleaned, conditioned and brushed his head and paws, mended some small holes in them, and completely re-stuffed him.

The final stage of the treatment saw Teddy receive new eyes and have his nose secured. As good as new, he was happy to put his pjs on again, and thanked me profusely for washing them and mending all the holes.

5 August

Sasha's Teddy Bear Hospital will now be taking a one-month break, as the doctor needs some time to attend to family matters and recharge the batteries.

Before the break I had couple of pretty big patients to treat - a bearcub-sized bear known as Mr. Bear, and an even bigger duck, known as Duck!

Neither patient was too ill but they both needed re-stuffing and some mending of holes. Mr. Bear also got a new nose in place of one he must have mislaid earlier)

3 August

70-year-old Teddy was admitted to my Hospital in a critical condition. He had been with his owner practically all her life, and was very much loved. Teddy had numerous open wounds in his head and limbs (with nylon stockings sticking out of them). He also needed a new eye and a new ear. He was, however, in good spirits, and asked me to make him a nice new red waistcoat once he was out of surgery)) That surgery was long and complicated, because when I started to open him up, I found that there was a whole new teddy hiding under his skin!

After extensive consultations with Teddy's family I decided on the best course of action in the circumstances. The outcome of the operation was a complete success, and Teddy's owner said that he came out just as she remembered him from years ago. Teddy too was most pleased, particularly after putting his new waistcoat on.

     

21 July

Three very different members of one family received treatment at Sasha's Teddy Bear Hospital this month.

28-year-old Jolly Tall's health issues not surprisingly centred on his neck. I mended some holes and added plenty of stuffing, so Jolly Tall could proudly hold his head up again.

67-year-old Ted's problems were way more serious: he had lost an arm, his eyes were falling out, his head was wobbly, and there were too many holes in his fur and paw pads. Fortunately, help was at hand, and Ted made a full recovery. He was able to thank me in person because he received a new growler as part of his treatment.

Young Elly did not look herself when admitted but she too came out of hospital in rude health. She had all the holes in her skin mended and received a full re-stuffing, so she could sit properly again.

18 July

I have been asked more than once to make a photographic record of the procedures that my patients undergo at Sasha's Teddy Bear Hospital. And so it was with Teddy, who was referred for treatment by his owner's sister-in-law. As you can see, Teddy looked rather emaciated on arrival, so a full re-stuffing was definitely what the doctor ordered - as well as the mending of the holes through which his original stuffing had escaped. Teddy also needed a new eye, having developed a cataract.

    
As is almost always the case, Teddy had to have a good wash as part of his treatment.
     

17 July

Here at Teddy Bear Hospital I get some unusual requests and unusual patients - but never before a patient who could not be physically present for his treatment. Fluffy Bear was a present to a baby girl from her parents some 20 years ago, and he has been her constant companion ever since, becoming ever less fluffy as years went by. The girl’s twin sister received an identical bear at the same time, but she preferred another toy, so her bear has retained his original look.

This year, the girl’s parents decided to give her a nice surprise by treating Fluffy Bear to a makeover. There was a problem though - Fluffy's owner would not be without him for more than a few hours, so there was no chance of his being smuggled into the Hospital for treatment without her knowing. The solution suggested by the parents (and inspired by The Repair Shop) was to make Fluffy Bear a special onesie that would make him fluffy again - and to use his twin brother for the measurements and to try the garment on at every stage of the process. And so Fluffy's selfless and perfectly healthy brother spent quite some time in Hospital while I was making the onesie. Once it was finished, the parents found that it was indeed a perfect fit for Fluffy - and their daughter was absolutely delighted!

15 July

I have had quite a few traditional teddy bears at my Hospital this month.

Teddy got new pads on his hind paws, had an ear patched and his nose embroidery topped up. I cleaned and brushed him, and washed and ironed his white bow tie. I tightened his joints but made sure that he still had his head slightly to one side - his owner was quite right in saying this made him even more charming!

62-year-old Ted (whose owner had heard about my Hospital on Radio Berkshire) had to have all four paw pads replaced, his joints tightened, a few holes mended, and threadbare areas on his back darned. He got a gentle clean and a small nose job too, as well as a bit of extra stuffing and a nice new growler.

Another patient, Red Ted, aged 30+, asked for an appointment after some of his relatives received treatment at my Hospital. He only required repairs to one paw pad - but it was a rather delicate job, as the pad had on it a much-admired Robin Rive logo, which Red Ted was keen to keep. I did my best, and both Red Ted and his owners were quite pleased with how it all worked out.

12 July

I have recently treated several soft toy Teddies who have been loved and cuddled by their owners since they (the owners) were small.
Sooty was remarkably well preserved, and his needs were mostly sartorial. Having cleaned, conditioned and brushed him, I underlined and patched his dungarees, added some stuffing and mended a few holes. I also refilled and fixed a torn bags of weight beads that I found inside him, and Sooty was very pleased that he could sit much more comfortably afterwards.

20-year-old Cream Teddy also had a good clean (so as to live up to his name). I underlined his threadbare skin and mended all the holes, while keeping his distinctive nose and navel just as his owner liked them.

The oldest of the three patients, Teddy, was quite surprised at how bright his fur became after I cleaned and conditioned him. He left the Hospital much bouncier than before thanks to a full re-stuffing, and was very relieved that the mending of his holes proved quite painless.