Dec 14, 2020

97-year-old aged care resident knits hundreds of teddy bears to donate to sick children as tribute to her infant son

Sick children in local hospitals have a reason to smile a little brighter over this year’s festive period, thanks to local woman, Marjorie Dempsey. The 97-year-old resident of Killarney Court Aged Care Facility has been busy knitting teddy bears to be donated to children at local hospitals.

Kind-spirited Marjorie has knitted hundreds of teddy bears for well over a decade, donating them to charities such as Legacy, the Australian Red Cross and various hospitals.

Despite knitting so many bears, Marjorie puts unique touches and love into each one.

“I always try to make the teddy bears different from one another,” Marjorie says.

“I feel this makes them a little more special.”

Marjorie began knitting bears after her infant son received one while in hospital.

Marjorie recalls: “My son was just 5 days old when he became unwell with meningitis and needed to be admitted to Camperdown Children’s Hospital, where he spent the next 18 months.”

“One of the special memories I have is that he received a teddy bear that was donated and it was a special comfort for my son and also for me. This is why making these teddy bears is so special to me.”

Tragically, Marjorie’s son passed away from his illness, and from then on Marjorie resolved that she would go on to create teddy bears for other critically ill babies and children to, as she says, “provide comfort and joy to those that receive them.”

Over the years, Marjorie’s efforts have gone on to do just that. Despite never knowing who receives her bears, Marjorie has the knowledge that other families feel the same comfort she did.

Since moving to Killarney Court Aged Care Facility over 7 years ago, Marjorie’s knitting has continued unabated, and supportive staff have ensured that she can continue her passion.

Despite being close to 100, Marjorie has no plans to stop knitting, despite it becoming more difficult for her.

“Although my eyesight is starting to make it a little harder for me to do, I will continue to make and donate them for as long as I can.”

Media Release provided by Brilliant Logic

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  1. What unsung angels ladies like Marjorie really are. Our granddaughter recently spent time in hospital and got to take her hand knitted bear home. These dear lady knitters don’t even get to see the joy these children get. Rarely is such kindness publicized about these unsung heroes, and they really should be thanked from the bottom of our hearts.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

“I’d rather die happy”: Is food regulation keeping residents safe – or preventing choice?

Food plays a pivotal role in our lives. Our innate desire to eat means our time is shaped by the three meals we consume each day. Some of us enjoy taking the time to cook and prepare our own food. The family meal is central to many of our lives. The different ways we prepare... Read More

5 Power Foods to Control Your Blood Pressure

Hypertension or high blood pressure is a very common medical condition that can endanger the life of many seniors. If left untreated, this health problem can lead to a whole array of other problems with a senior’s body system including heart disease, kidney disease, stroke, vision loss, etc. The tricky thing with high blood pressure... Read More

Neuroscientists discover a song that reduces anxiety by 65%, and now it’s going viral (LISTEN)

Anxiety is the terrible feeling of panic, worry, fear and dread, and it turns out that over 30% of people between the ages of 18 and 54 are affected by anxiety disorders in the U.S. alone. When it comes to the workplace and the education system, anxiety has been reported to hold its grip on... Read More
Advertisement