As children, our beloved stuffed animals would have seen us through the toughest of times – cough PSLE cough – along with our chou chous or blankies.
Those of us who’ve kept our childhood toys over the years will remember the heartbreaking process of watching your BFF’s fur lose their gleam or twinkle in their little button eyes.
Thankfully, there’s a special hospital in Japan that’ll give every ‘patient’ the TLC they need to feel brand new again.
Prepare your hearts for the heartwarming & miraculous stories of recovery for the incredible patients of Nuigurumi Hospital.
Elderly or broken toys are first mailed to Nuigurumi Hospital in Japan via post in a smooth ‘check-in’ process.
Next, each patient is placed under the meticulous care of a team of dedicated soft toy doctors & nurses, in separate wards with comfy beds.
The well-trained stuffed animal staff will help ensure every patient gets the best care possible.
Each toy will be lovingly restored to its original condition, and given the VIP treatment till they have recovered from their ailments.
When each toy is fully healed, they’ll be sent back on an express shuttle bus service.
A cardboard & postal ‘vehicle’ will deliver them back into the loving arms of their owners. Patients don’t go home empty-handed either.
Each patient receives flowers, get-well letters & gifts to accompany them as proof of their resilience on the long road to recovery.
Stuffed animals who have more serious ‘trauma’ injuries may have to be put under a full rehabilitation programme.
For this teddy, this process entailed a long soak in a herbal spa bath with frangipani flowers.
Followed by multiple rounds of physiotherapy, as it learned to ride on its favourite rocking horse again.
Talk about an end-to-end patient journey.
The hospital has seen a wide range of tough cases — from tattered ears, to hip reconstruction surgery & button replacement.
Some toys who’ve been checked-in for longer stays get to enjoy ‘discharge’ parties to celebrate their recovery.
Treatment costs differ as well, depending on the size of each patient.
More detailed information is available on their very professional looking website here.
We love that older toys are treated with such tender loving care in this special hospital in Japan. After all, every stuffed companion deserves due recognition for offering unconditional support in our formative years.
Until a similar hospital opens in Singapore, remember to give your favourite stuffed animal an extra squeeze tonight & treasure each moment you have with them.
We won’t be able to return to our carefree childhood years, but our toys will always remain a fond reminder of them as we grow older.
Featured image adapted from Nuigurumi Hospital.
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