Young girl invents teddy bear IV cover to disguise saline/chemo filled medical bag

Girl, 7, with immune disorder invents teddy bear cover for IV bag so it’s less scary for children in hospital

  • A girl has developed a way to conceal IV hospital drips and lessen patients’ fears
  • Ella Casano developed the Medi Teddy, a stuffed animal toy to conceal an IV bag
  • Ella, 7, from Connecticut has an immune disorder and needs IV infusions 
  • She wanted to improve the time spent in hospital for children like her 
  • A GoFundMe page was set up and she plans to donate 500 Medi Teddy’s to kids 

A young girl has developed a novel way to conceal IV hospital drips and lessen patients’ fears.  

Ella Casano, 12, from Connecticut, was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease called Idiopathic Thrombocytopenia Purpura (ITP) five years ago.

The condition can lead to easy or excessive bruising and bleeding which is due to unusually low levels of platelets, which helps blood clot. 

Ella Casano, 12, (pictured) has invented a stuffed teddy bear cover to conceal an IV line attached to a drip in a bid to make hospital a less scary place for kids like her 

Ella had to have IV infusions every six to eight weeks because of her condition.  At times she was fearful of the process and developed the Medi Teddy, a stuffed animal which is placed around the bag to conceal it.

In a statement on her website, she said:  ‘When I had my first infusion, I was surprised and a little bit intimidated by the look of the amount of tubing and medical equipment on my IV pole. 

‘As I saw more and more children experiencing the same feelings, I became more interested in creating a friendlier experience for young IV patients, so I created Medi Teddy. I hope that Medi Teddy helps you just as much as it helps me!.’

The back side of the pouch is made of mesh so that nurses and doctors can keep track of the amount of medication the patient is receiving. 

Ella made a number of prototypes and gave them to her nurses to use for feedback on how to make it better.

She subsequently researched business plans at school for an independent study and crafted her own for Medi Teddy. 

She developed Medi Teddy because she felt slightly intimated by all the tubing and equipment attached to her ID pole

She developed Medi Teddy because she felt slightly intimated by all the tubing and equipment attached to her ID pole 

Ella Casano

Ella Casano

Ella Casano, 12, from Connecticut, was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease called Idiopathic Thrombocytopenia Purpura and IV infusions every six to eight weeks

They are now completing paperwork to make the company a nonprofit organization.

Her mother Meg told CNN of her condition: ‘It’s when her body attacks and destroys its own platelets, so it puts her at higher risk for bleeding or injury, more than most people. 

‘So, she cut up a stuffed animal and used a hot glue gun and made her very first Medi Teddy,’  Casano said.

Last weekend, they launched a GoFundMe page so she can donate 500 Medi Teddys to children just like her.  

The account has raised a staggering $17,002 out of a $5,000 goal.  

‘The response has been wonderful — her nurses have tried the prototypes and given suggestions. 

‘And we think we are ready to produce a really awesome product that can help hundreds of kids.’

 

 

 

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk