Sick kids will now be able to channel the bravery of local veterans when waging treatment battles at Children's Hospital.
Veterans at Parkwood Institute created "warrior beads" to bring strength to the children fighting a long-term illness or injury and personally delivered them to the hospital on Friday. The bright blue clay beads are the size of a dime and include the thumbprint of the veteran who molded, painted, and glazed it.
"I put my fingerprint in each bead so the children can see it's a gift from an older warrior to a younger warrior," said John Doucette, an 88-year-old former member of the Canadian Army. "These children are in a tough place and fighting to get well. I want to be helpful and make them happy, and maybe give them the possibility of a miracle. I'm sure they can all use a miracle."
Doucette also says a prayer over each bead before it is kiln fired at the veteran's art studio at Parkwood.
Warrior and Remembrance Day beads created by veterans at Parkwood Institute.
Second World War Navy gunner Arthur Stenning and his wife Glenna, who was part of the Canadian Women’s Army Corp., were among the four veterans to make the journey to Children's to personally deliver the beads.
"We have suffered the same as they have... but we do have awards for it that we are able to wear," said Stenning. "So now the kids are getting something that they can wear and demonstrate to people that they have suffered as well. I think that is really good."
The warrior beads, along with red poppy beads to be distributed to children in hospital on Remembrance Day, are part of the hospital's bravery bead program.
"Started in 2001, the bravery bead program is completely funded through donors through the Children's Health Foundation," said Children's Hospital Director Kelly Finlayson. "We have created beads that represent various stages and events that happen in a child's health care journey. If they are in hospital for their birthday there is a bead. Oly the clown has a bead. There are also beads for facing treatment and interventions like MRIs or blood work, anything a child experiences, we have a bead for that."
The Parkwood veterans recently approached Children's Hospital about making the warrior and Remembrance Day beads. They are only the second community partner to create a bead for the bravery bead program - the Optimist Club previously designed a sunshine bead to wish kids sunny days ahead.
"The kids bring their beads every time they visit the hospital. If they are with us already some of the children choose to hang them off their IV poles or their wheelchairs," said Finlayson. "Some start them as bracelets and as they grow they turn them into necklaces. They carry them with them where ever they go."
The first of five children to receive a warrior bead on Friday was Keanna Shrubsall. The 12-year-old was diagnosed with Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis six years ago and has spent six days a week at the hospital for the past eight months for hemodialysis. She was all smiles when showing the group of veterans her long chains of bravery beads.
"They make me feel strong, brave and you can see what you have been through," said Shrubsall.
Holding up her new warrior bead, Shrubsall said, "it's neat to share a veteran's experience with your own experience."
