Vygon donates equipment to bring teddy bears to life

Rather than destroying products coming to the end of their life, Vygon UK has shared more than 150 of its medical devices, including enteral feeding tubes and buttons, with Ben’s Medibear, for the creation of teddy bears fitted with bespoke medical devices.

According to Ben’s Medibear founder Ciara Johnston, medical device donations are crucial to the work of the non-profit company: “Having access to medical devices is vital. Without it, we wouldn't be able to provide education on the utilisation and acceptance of such products. We’ve found that it is easier for people to accept and learn when seeing and using the actual device rather than, for example, through a knitted or 3D-printed model.

“Each handmade Ben’s Medibear is designed to be as unique as its owner and can be adapted with everything from scars, tracheostomies and button PEG tubes, to hearing aids or cochlear implants, and almost everything in between. The bears help normalise medical equipment for people, reduce any worries they have, and allow them to better understand the user's needs.”

Mark Chadwick, Business Development Manager at Vygon UK, says: “We’ve been a proud supporter of Ben’s Medibear for many years and are thrilled to play a small part in the organisation’s mission to promote social inclusion and acceptance, using our medical devices to help bring these unique bears to life. The bears are instrumental in helping parents, friends and family gain a greater understanding of the needs of those living with a medical device or procedure and serve as a vital resource in hospital settings.”

To find out more: bensmedibear.com and www.vygon.co.uk