“My Shadow Buddy’s name is Molly. She is five years old. She’s sick. She has a stomach ache. The doctor helps her get better. She likes being in the hospital because she gets to play with toys.”

— Mary, 9 years old

“My buddies name is Sheila.  I was pushing her in the stroller yesterday and I took her out and put her in the bed with me and she sleeps with me.  When the nurse came she got some medicine too.  I gave her some food.  She looks cute and pretty.”

— Brittany, 4 years old

“Today we did surgery on Carlos, my Shadow Buddy. And we put a gown on him and put a cast on him. We cut some paper to make a skin graft and we stapled it on his leg. I like him because he’s fake and I can wrestle him.”

— Nelson, 6 years old

“My Shadow Buddies name is Shawn.  We hang out together.  He couldn’t come down to the playroom right now because he has his breathing treatment.  It helps him feel better like me.  I am feeling better.”

— Reginald, 8 years old

“My Shadow Buddies name is Laquisa.  She had a burn.  She got her burn just like I did.  She looks like me.  I like her.  I bounce her up and down on the bed.  I wash her up when I get washed up.  I will keep her forever.  I love her very much.”

— Shante, 10 years old

“While in the hospital my last time I had to have an abscess removed.  Once out of surgery the only person with me was my mom and I got lonely.  So I had heard about Shadow Buddies and asked for one.  Instead of just one I got two.  An asthma and surgery buddy.  Form then on I was no longer lonely.  I carried my shadow buddies with me everywhere on my IV pole.  Since I got my shadow buddy in the hospital I didn’t fell lonely again.”   

— Mike, 14 years old            

“My shadow buddies name is Robert.  Robert is nine years old.  Robert is having problems breathing.  I sing to Robert it helps him feel better.  He’s a little scared of being in the hospital.  I tell him to use his inhaler and then he won’t be scared anymore.  Robert is happy to go home, but he still likes it here at the hospital because he likes the nurses and the playroom.”

— Jay, 9 years old