A Connecticut girl is making the hospital a less terrifying place for young children with an invention that disguises IV bags as teddy bears.
12-year-old Ella Casano invented the bag after facing several IV infusions as a young girl. Those treatments were for an autoimmune disease called Idiopathic Thrombocytopenia Purpura.
Casano’s mother told CNN that Ella’s condition causes her body to attack and destroy its own platelets putting her at a higher risk for bleeding or injury.
Treating the disease had her visiting the hospital every six to eight weeks for infusions.
On her website, Ella shares why she came up with the idea called Medi Teddy.
“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,” her statement reads. “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!”
After creating prototypes and receiving feedback from nurses, Ella says she is ready to produce the first 500 units of Medi Teddy pouches, according to CNN.
The pouches contain a mesh back that allows the IV bag to be placed inside the bears while not obstructing the view of the bag for nurses and doctors.
A GoFundMe was launched on Sunday to help raise $5,000 to place the first orders for the product.
Casano tells CNN that once created, the bears will be given to children at no cost.
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