Trauma Teddies

Molly Baxter came to live in Geegeelup Aged Care Facility nearly five years ago. She’d been admitted to the Bridgetown hospital in poor health, then after a little more than a five week stay there it was decided because of her health condition she would fare better as a resident in Geegeelup Aged Care Facility.

At that time her husband Alec stilled lived in their home in North Greenbushes, two years on he is also now living in the facility, in the room next door to her.

Molly, who is 89 years old, really enjoys living in the facility and has thrived in the environment.

As part of her therapy, she started to knit ‘Trauma Teddies’ for the Red Cross. The Teddies are distributed by the Red Cross to children in need, the Trauma Teddies provide care in so many ways, teddies give comfort to children fleeing bushfires, floods and other emergencies. They are used as a warm welcome to refugee children; as company for a child in a speeding ambulance; as friendly security in hospital and most importantly, the teddies always have a happy face in a lonely time.

The Teddies have to be knitted to a pattern supplied by the Red Cross, any colour wool or acrylic knitting yarn can be used as long as it is 8ply, Molly uses size 4 needles to produce her Teddies.

“I have always enjoyed knitting, making bonnets and small animals like mice. The therapy team showed me the pattern for the Trauma Teddy, since then, I have to date knitted somewhere around 64 to 70 of these teddies over the last three years.” Molly explains.

“At first, I was given some yarn to knit with, the yarn supply seems to be like the magic pudding, it never runs out, one staff member or another is always bringing me a ball or two.

“Once knitted, the Teddy’s body is stuffed with toy filler, stitched close and then sent to the Red Cross in Perth.

“The faces on Teddies need to be embroidered. When I started, I made the faces, they now ask me to let the ladies at Red Cross in Perth finish the Teddies’ faces for consistency. Once the Teddy has passed its qualifying test, a Red Cross approved label is sewn on the front to certify the bear as a Trauma Teddy.

“Knitting the teddies has mutual benefits, the child in need gets a teddy to comfort and I get the joy from making an item that hopefully makes a difference in a child’s life.

“Knitting not only keeps my fingers nibble; it also keeps me mentally alert.

“There is always a lot going on in the hostel for the residents, exercise classes, games like cards, dominoes, bingo and puzzles.”

Kylie Larsen and the therapy team at Geegeelup Aged Care Facility work hard to keep the residents engaged with life, Molly has benefited from their endeavour.