WOA Vice-President Betty Friesen presenting Shadow Buddy to Hubert Fenton-Smedts
PHOTO CREDITS: Cathy Zitzelsberger
At our Chapter meeting on February 28, our President, Lorrie Pismenny showed us a few Shadow Buddies.
She had received a request from Mr. Hubert Fenton-Smedts, Director of Kids Gloves Day Care. Apparently there are children with ostomies who attend the center. Mr. Fenton-Smedts was enquiring if there was a doll for children with ostomies He wanted to purchase one to use for educational/play purposes for the many special needs children at the centre.
On Thursday, March 8, 2007, three representatives of the Winnipeg Ostomy Association, President Lorrie Pismenny, Vice-President Betty Friesen And Visiting Co-Ordinator Cathy Zitzelsberger had the opportunity to present Mr. Fenton-Smedts with a dark- skinned Shadow Buddy, with Betty making the presentation. He was very thankful.
We had just arrived when the children were getting dressed to play outdoors, most of them being helped into their snowsuits, boots, etc., quite a challenging job! But the very idea of going out to play made them very happy indeed.
Once the children were outdoors and peace was restored, we were given a very impressive tour of the centre. It was like living in a tiny village and we were the giants.
We came away with a feeling of gratitude for this well run facility, staff and devotion which one could see and feel in Hubert.
The Winnipeg Ostomy Association gratefully acknowledges Hollister for the donation of the Shadow Buddy.
Hubert Fenton-Smedts and the Shadow Buddy
Together, mother Marty Postlethwait and son Miles, created the first Shadow Buddy. "Heart eyes for love and a big smile to make everyone happy" were Mile's idea. His thumbprint appears on all Shadow Buddies, giving the thumbs-up that everything is OK.
Shadow Buddies are designed to be both "the friend like me" and a teaching tool. Designed as warm, huggable Buddies for boys and girls of all races and ages, they can take the place of friends who cannot be around when needed most. They are also condition specific, demonstrating anatomically the physical results of treating a particular condition. For example, the "Ostomy Buddy" has a stoma, the "Cancer Buddy" has thinning hair, a surgical mask and a catheter in the chest for radiation and chemotherapy treatment. (There are more than 17 different Shadow Buddies available). For more information please view the website of the Shadow Buddies Foundation at: http://www.shadowbuddies.org/New/.
