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Article Great Grandmother’s ‘Beary’ Beautiful Gift For Little Patients

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Any parent who’s watched their child have a blood test knows how frightening it can be for little ones. Which is why Queensland great grandmother Valma Jacobsen decided to help put a smile on their faces with her hand-knitted teddies.

The 95-year-old has been donating her knitted bears to Mater’s pathology collection centre for more than a decade – giving more than two thousand children one of her lovingly handcrafted creations.

“I’ve knitted three bears per week for the last 13 years. I knit for a few hours every night,” Valma said. “It keeps my hands busy and stops me falling asleep at night watching television. I only knit at night, as I keep busy during the day reading books and doing crosswords and jigsaw puzzles.”

Valma Jacobsen bears

Valma Jacobsen bears

For most kids, having a blood test is a scary experience, which is why Valma’s bears are so important.

“The sight of needles, an unfamiliar, sterile environment, and fear of pain can easily lead to anxiety,” Mater Pathology phlebotomist (collector) Shelley Liebenberg explained.

“For many children, it’s their first blood test, so you want them to have the best first experience as possible. Praising them for their bravery with a small token – just like Val’s teddies – or a gesture can also help to positively reinforce the experience.”

Valma Jacobsen bears

Valma says she’s already donated around 90 teddies this year alone, and will continue to make them for as long as she can.

“I used to make the odd project for my children and grandchildren but began knitting teddies for the Red Cross with a group of women at my retirement village in Yeronga.”

Her friends from the knitting group have since passed away, but Valma says she has no intention of stopping any time soon.

 

“Knowing I can bring some comfort to a small child when they are having a blood test it really special,”(Images: Josh Woning)

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  • This is absolutely kind and thoughtful

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  • We have 9 stories in the articles today and this is the only happy one .And it is just that Happy nice to see

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  • What a marvellous woman is she and those bears are magical and ever so cute

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  • This is just one of the most beautiful stories ive read recently. What an amazing woman doing something she loves which helps little ones experiencing an uncomfortable time in their life. These gorgeous little teddies would bring the biggest smiles to the children’s and parents who are heading in for the blood test.

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  • People that engage in activities that help others are so wonderful. It is so wonderful to turn a skill of knitting into teddies bears that benefit others in need. Teddy bears do bring comfort when it is very much needed. We received a teddy when we were once in hospital and it really did help.

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  • What a wonderful lady. Three a week is amazing and to think, over 2000! Well done. I hope she has locals that donate wool to her.

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  • My great aunt made and donated well over a 100 bears to the children’s hospital, and I thought that was pretty good going! This is impressive.

    • Wow that is impressive, how lovely of her to donate her time and those teddies. What a wonderful gesture to do for children. I take my hat off to people who can give back like this. I think it is absolutely wonderful to see people like this lady give back to the community. We need more people like this lady.

      • I congratulate people that give back to the community and give their time to help and support others. Hospital can be such a scary experience and having a strategy to help children is wonderful. A teddy bear is one of the best strategies for providing love and comfort and hopefully easing some fear.

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  • What a beautiful lady and such a lovely, thoughtful thing for her to be doing. My eldest daughter received a knitted bear when she was in hospital after she split her lip open. I know much comfort it gave her at the time and she still has that bear 12 years later.

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  • Wow what an amazing human this lady is to spend so much time and for so long doing something to help the kids. What a blessing this woman is to be kind enough to give up this time to do this for all those kids who get to have something to cuddle and smile about during that time at the hospital.

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  • So lovely ! Tow of my kids were donated one of these bears. I actually joined one of these knitting groups myself and have knitted quite some of these bears in the past. Sadly I can’t do knitting or crochet anymore due to Carpal Tunnel Syndome…maybe I made to many ;)

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  • What a beautiful woman. We are so lucky to have such a kind-hearted, giving person among us. When my son had surgery this year at 10 months old at the Mater children’s Hospital he was gifted a knitted bear. My husband and I were nervous all morning (mainly me, the worrier!) and it gave us a moment of joy to see his little face light up with a new toy. I really hope her friends who are now gone, and Valma know/knew just how special and impactful the bears are to receive.

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