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The
Story of Theo Bear
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The
Sheffield Children's Hospital Bear has actually been living
in the hospital for many years. In that time he has visited
hundreds of children to whisper kind words in their ears or
to give them a hug. But you won't have heard about it because
many of the children were asleep and those who were awake
promised not to tell anyone about it. You see, the bear is
quite shy and didn't want a lot of grown ups fussing round
him taking his photograph or, worse, trying to get him sent
to the zoo because bears are not hygienic enough to be in
the hospital.
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One
night however, there was a poorly girl called Mary who was
very lonely and frightened about being in hospital. The bear
came in through one of his secret entrances and spent some
time with her, as he had so often done for other children.
Mary was beginning to feel a lot better when suddenly a nurse
with very loud clumpy shoes came down the ward bringing some
medicine for her. The bear usually escapes when this happens.
He moves very quickly and quietly and he knows exactly where
to hide. But on this night Mary jumped so hard when the nurse
called her name that the bear fell off the bed and hurt himself.
And of course then he was caught!
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The
nurse was actually very gentle and did not make fuss at all
when she saw the bear. She asked the doctor to come and have
a look at him and then bandaged him up and gave him a cup
of cocoa. When the bear explained what he was doing the nurse
thought that he was the kindest bear she had ever met. She
asked if she could have a picture of him to keep and show
her friends. That was in 1983 and within a very short time
the bear became quite famous.
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Everyone
has seen the pictures now. But there are still very few grown
ups who have actually seen him, and although he has visited
many children since, they usually don't tell anyone about
it. That's the way the bear prefers it.
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Many
people have wondered where his cave is, but no-one knows.
Certainly it is not in part of the hospital where people usually
go. We do know that he has many secret passages and a tunnel
that goes under the road and comes out somewhere in the park.
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The
bear is not employed by the hospital, he just lives there.
He allows the hospital to use his picture, and I think he
is quite proud of it, but he is still shy and very uncomfortable
with crowds. There have been some embarrassing moments when
he has to ask the hospital staff for help, but he usually
manages to ask one person when no-one else is looking, then
leaves them a picture as a thank you present.
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Theo Club, The Children's Hospital Charity, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10
2TH
All pages copyright (c) 2004 - 2009 The Children's Hospital Charity
Registered Charity No 505002
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