Give Back Your Own Way: Big Dog Project

Ethan knows that every bit of comfort matters in the hospital. When he was 8 and had abdominal pain, he learned he had Crohn’s disease. The next two years meant multiple procedures and surgeries requiring long hospital stays and countless follow-up appointments.

He often missed his friends and the ease of doing simple tasks, like walking or eating, without discomfort. One familiar face made a world of difference: Big Dog, his favorite stuffed animal from IKEA. It offered plush hugs and reminders of home when he needed it most.

"It helped me feel safe," Ethan says.

Ethan's health improved, and he returns to Children's National Hospital for occasional infusions. As he and his twin Keira approached their b'nai mitzvah, a coming-of-age ceremony for Jewish teens, they wanted to share with other patients the comfort that Ethan found with Big Dog. For Ethan and Keira's mitzvah project, a tradition to give back to the community, they raised money through an online campaign to buy and donate stuffed golden retrievers from IKEA to kids in the hospital at Children's National. They delivered more than 150.

Patients, families and staff welcomed these special deliveries with smiles and happy tears. For a child in the hospital, every snuggle from Big Dog helps them feel safe too.

"Even the older kids love them," says Cheryl, Ethan and Keira's mom. "They often really need a friend."