WELCOME TO BEAR HUGS FOR ME
ABOUT BEAR HUGS FOR ME
My name is Amie. I started Bear Hugs for ME after becoming bedridden with severe Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME/CFS). ME is a life-altering and highly disabling neuro-immune disease with a wide array of symptoms. One of the few activities I could still do was knitting. A quarter of people with ME are often housebound or bedridden making it a very lonely and isolating disease. Many people live in a single darkened room unable to tolerate human interaction without being in severe pain. I know first first hand how lonely and isolating of a disease ME can be. From my bed, I started making teddy bears and sending them to others with ME around the world to help them not feel so alone and to bring them a little hope and happiness.
ABOUT MY BEARS
My bears are lovingly knitted by hand over many hours. On average it takes me 30-40 hours to knit one bear. Each bear is unique and custom made for the individual receiving the bear. I know many people with ME are prone to allergies and are very sensitive to a lot of things. I myself am very sensitive to textiles that have been treated with harsh chemicals. That is why I only use good quality yarns made of either polyester, wool, cotton, bamboo, or linen. The yarns I choose are very soft and I also buy organic or eco friendly yarns when possible. I also use hypoallergenic polyester stuffing to make my bears as allergy friendly as possible. If you have a particular textile allergy please let me know when requesting your bear.
THE SMILEY DUDES, UK
Dudley Dude Bear
A JOURNEY THROUGH THE FOG, UK
A Journey Through the Fog
HOW TO REQUEST A BEAR
If you or someone you know with ME would like a bear, please send me a message and let me know what you would like your bear to look like. I do not keep bears in stock but I instead make them for each individual by request. I buy the supplies for each bear out of my own pocket but I never charge for them as I would rather the money go toward helping to find a treatment and a cure. That is why I ask that you instead donate to the Open Medicine Foundation if you are able. I know a lot of people with ME are in difficult financial situations so I will always be happy to make a bear for someone regardless of their ability to donate, but if you are able to donate even a few cents, every little bit helps.
Please be aware that I usually have a waiting list so it can take anywhere from 6-8 weeks or sometimes longer before I can make your bear. I can usually make about 1 bear a week depending on my own health but I am always happy to take new requests and reserve you a place if you are willing to wait. Each bear is a work of art personalized for the individual receiving it so it takes many hours of knitting combined with enough rest and self care to keep myself from crashing.
CHOOSE THE COLOR OF YOUR BEAR
I can make any color bear you would like. I can do natural colors or any color of the rainbow. I typically use fuzzy yarns which makes my bears super soft and cuddly.
CHOOSE THE COLOR AND DESIGN OF YOUR BEAR'S SWEATER
For each bear I make, I also make a personalized sweater for the bear. The sweater can be plain or I can add a design with a word, letter, or symbol that is meaningful to you. If you are unsure what you would like for your bear's sweater, I am happy to help create a design based on things you like.
DONATE
If you request a bear and are able to make a donation, I ask that you please donate to The Open Medicine Foundation. A donation is not required to receive a bear but is always welcome if you have a few cents to give.
SHIPPING
I ship my bears to fellow ME warriors all over the world at no charge. When requesting a bear, please include the mailing address you would like me to ship the bear to. Since my waiting list can be a bit long I will notify you when I begin working on your bear and I will send you a tracking number when it ships so you know to be expecting your new friend soon.
PLEASE NOTE:
At this time I am temporarily unable to take on more requests for bears. I currently have a high number of requests on my list and my health has also been declining. Lately I have really been struggling to finish bears in a timely manner as I just do not have the strength. This is only temporary until I can make further progress with the orders I already have or my health improves. If you have already requested a bear I will still work on making your bear as my body allows and I will get it to you when I can. You may still feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns. Thank you for understanding the unpredictable ups and downs of ME.
