Orrin anxiously waits for his sock monkey (also named Orrin) to have his broken arm set. Photo by Connie Voss

GRIDLEY, CA (MPG) – Stuffed toys of all kinds (not just Teddy Bears) made it to the 26th annual Teddy Bear Clinic at the Gridley Medical Specialty Center on May 15. The goal is to help kids learn that the doctor’s office is not a scary place. 

Members of the Pathways program at Orchard Hospital served as clinicians. All of them experienced the Teddy Bear Clinic in grade schools.

 
Students lined up at the first table to supply patient information. Courtesy photo

“I came here with Manzanita as a first grader. I want to become an architect, but I really like Pathways because it’s a lot of fun,” said Pathways student Gus Stogsdill.

Pathways is available to high school students during all four years at Gridley High School. The nursing students go to Orchard Hospital two days a week for shadowing nurses and other hands-on experiences, according to Gracie Leishman. 

The Pathways volunteers saw Monster Trucks, as well as a penguin that had broken an arm and a leg when he was skydiving and forgot his parachute. Mae Povey’s stuffed toy had broken ears, for which Band-Aids were applied. A student named Brickston had a snow leopard with a broken tail and was given a splint. Many of the stuffed toys were updated on their immunizations.   

Between five and six hundred Transitional Kindergarten (TK) thru first grade students from Manzanita and McKinley Elementary schools, Kids Castle and a few independent pre-schools were in attendance. McKinley students walked over, and the Manzanita students came by bus. Several dozen extra stuffed animals were lined up behind the exam tables for students who forgot to bring theirs. One girl started crying hysterically because she wanted one of the extras in addition to her own! One of the Pathways students gave it to her. 

 

Pathways students wait for the next group of students to arrive at the Teddy Bear Clinic. All spoke favorably of the Pathways program. Photo by Connie Voss

At the first table, assistants registered each patient from the respective student, including the ailments requiring treatment. Information forms were collected for each and every patient. Event coordinator Kirsten Storne-Piazza, who started the program 28 years ago, reviews all of them one-by-one after the event is over.  

“I look for red flags (for children in abusive situations). I have had two since we started.  Kids will say what’s wrong with their animal more than they’ll say what’s wrong with themselves,” Storne said.

Storne got the idea for the clinic when she attended a conference back east. Talking with local law enforcement, they all agreed to try it out. The program has been held every year, except for the years during the Covid pandemic. 

 

A number of donated stuffed toys were available for any of the kids who forgot to bring theirs. Courtesy photo

CalFire, Gridley Police, and First Responders were all present to instruct kids on what to do in emergencies, and answer questions about what they do. Firefighters showed some of their equipment and taught the kids to crawl low under smoke during a fire. Gridley PD officer Ashley Gibson informed children about the 911 system. The First Responders showed the students the stretcher that they use for people with injuries. 

Each student received a coloring book entitled “A Visit to the Hospital” to help children know what to expect if they ever become a patient. 

Children and adults all had an enjoyable, educational time.

 

Firefighters train children on how to stay low in a house fire. Photo by Connie Voss