Feel Better Friend
The Feel Better Friends project makes handmade dolls, crafted by volunteers and donated to children battling cancer and other illnesses. They have been around for 7 years. Shanon Fouquet came up with the idea when she saw a little girl, who was battling cancer, holding her American Girl doll. In the photo the girl was dressed identically to the doll. Shanon decided to make a handmade doll created for the girl with wig and matching clothes that could go ‘wigless’ just like her. She then decided to make Fell Better Friend dolls for other children suffering from cancer and other illnesses.
It has grown a lot since then. Nearly 200 volunteers in over 7 countries makes these dolls for children in need. The dolls are crocheted and made with the child’s likeness in mind. They match the hair and eye color and do their best to replicate the child’s favorite outfit too. They are 100% funded by donations. The money for the material to make the dolls as well as all the time involved are all donated by these amazing people.
Alice's Feel Better Friend Doll
We found out about the Feel Better Friends program from the TinySuperheroes Facebook group. A member had posted a picture of the doll that their child had just received. After reading about them I applied for Alice to receive her own dolls. For a child to receive a doll that looks like them, especially if they feel different, is incredibly special. I sent a picture of Alice in her favorite dress in the volunteer was able to make the doll wear something similar. A few months before one of Alice’s MRI’s a package arrived for Alice. It took a little while to arrive, but it was defiantly worth the wait!
Alice was excited to open her box and see the doll inside. I mentioned while applying that Alice loved mermaids. Not only did they make the doll look like her and match her dress, but the doll came with a matching mermaid tail skirt! Alice instantly loved her doll! We called her Lil Ali. Alice loves to bring lil Ali to hospital with her and Kiki, her koala. Alice is terrified of the doctors at the hospital when they try to check her vitals or even to weigh her. So, the doctors check to see how lil Ali is doing first then Alice feels a bit more comfortable. When Alice is not feeling well at home, she will cuddle on our couch with lil Ali and watch The Little Mermaid.
What people are saying
Sutherland was born with CHD (Child Heart Defect), TOF (Tetralogy of Fallot) with ASV. DSV and Pulmonary Stenosis, Esophageal Atresia with Fistula and Fused Ectopic Kidney. He had a full esophagus repair / construction as two days old. He had his first open heart surgery at almost four months old with a re-entry five days later to insert a permeant pacemaker. Last year he was diagnosed with a leaky valve and an arrhythmic issue, we await surgery.
When Sutherland's Feel Better Friends doll arrived in the mail it made him feel happy. To the left is a photo of when Sutherland first received his Feel Better Friend. Sutherland has a chest scar and esophagus surgery scar, the maker of the doll even added them on to the FBF. It made him happy and feel better. He named it Sudy which is Sutherland's nick name. To the left is recently in the waiting area at the dentist.
My son Philip, who will be 9 in April received his forever friend last June. He is a brain tumor survivor, hydrocephalus warrior. The has a gtube and a bit of a drooler. Philip's forever friend came to me without my son being home, so I received it before my son. It helped me while he was gone. It was a great support for me. Then my son came home, and he loved it. Cuddles it anytime its in his hands. He loves that it looks like him (has a bigger cranium) and has all his special needs. (gtube, hand and leg splints and a drool cloth). Little Philip is a huge part of our family now. I am truly grateful for this program.
My son takes him everywhere with him. We absolutely love it.
My son loves his Feel Better Friend, we never forget to bring it to the hospital when we stay over for his treatment. They even made the doll with a port in his chest just like my sons! It really help him be brave and comforts him when he has his doll.
My son Jaxx has Magenis Syndrome SMS. We told the Feel Better Friends that Jaxx loves Elmo and that he has a scar on his chest due to surgery. It was perfect timing because we received it near Valentine's, so it was a Valentine's gift. For two weeks Jaxx would sleep with it and take it everywhere with him. We would like to thank Feel Better Friends organization from the bottom of our heart and a special shout out to our Kaye who made this treasure. Feel better friends are treasures made with love.
Our feel good friends are priceless. My baby's love them. They love the fact they look just like them.
Feel Better Friends, the maker, was the first person to actually be able to help us out and make the doll with my niece's Vitiligo spots. We cannot find any dolls, Barbie's etc. (we found one Barbie with Vitiligo) but I have never seen her light up the way she did when she got her Feel Better Friend. They also made an angel doll that came along with her FBF to represent her mom who had passed away.
Feel Better Friends is a nonprofit organization. To find out more about them by click here. You can volunteer to make dolls for children or you can even donate yarn and other supplies. There are many programs available that provide support for families with children who have a serious illness. Please do some research and find out what is available in your area. You are not alone and their are many people who want to help. One program we also love is the TinySuperheroes. To read about this program click here.
Has your child received a Feel Better Friends doll? Please leave a comment below and tell us what you think! Would you like to share your child’s story? Fill out the contact form below.
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3 thoughts on “Feel Better Friend”
This is great site. It’s good to know there are good people like Sarah helping others navigate the system.
Reading these stories and the strength of these children.
It’s truly remarkable.
I think all children feel better when receive their new friend. The doll really cute like them.
Yes they are so nice! We are so thankful to all the volunteers that make them!
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