A teddy bear from Phillip’s Love Bears is not merely a stuffed animal. It represents a legacy of care and compassion for children with disabilities. Born out of the heart of a disabled child, each bear sends the message that a person with a disability can play a significant role in touching a hurting world.
This Sunday we’ll be celebrating the sanctity of life.
Hi, I’m Joni, and I believe every child, even one with a significant disability, is precious in the sight of God. And I am thinking of Phillip Fusco II. When a sonogram of Phillip showed issues with movement and swallowing, the doctors recommended an abortion. But as followers of Jesus, Phillip’s parents refused. Soon after he was born, in 1991, Phillip was diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder known as Prader-Willi Syndrome. It meant this little guy had to spend his first months in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Duke Medical Center. Shortly afterward, Phillip coded, requiring medical intervention to keep him alive. And over the years, this kid underwent serious surgeries, including a reconstruction of his spinal column. And you know what? The hospital became his second home. His parents were wonderfully supportive, and although they did not know what the future held for “little Phillip,” God sure did.
You see, all that time, all those years Phillip was in and out of the hospital, his little heart went out to all the other children going through surgeries, as well. And so one day, after one of his hospital procedures, Phillip let his parents know that he wanted to start doing something to “help children who hurt.” It did not take long to come up with a creative idea. In response to his son’s request, his parents started a ministry called “Phillip’s Love Bears.” Now, these are beautiful, expertly-stitched plush little teddy bears that would rival anything made by FAO Schwarz. And although Phillip has many physical and mental challenges, this young man painstakingly assists in stuffing lots of those bears, finishing each bear with a quality-control hug to assure lovability. And the real beauty of these bears is in the struggle that it takes for Phillip to help create them.
And now, since the inception of his ministry, tens of thousands of bears have been sent to churches, missionaries, hospitals, and orphanages at home and abroad. And we’re talking about 40 countries! Each gift of a Phillip’s Love Bear sends a message that children with serious physical and mental challenges can play a significant role in touching a hurting world. And the really cool part, as the ministry has grown, people within the special needs community are assisting in stuffing these teddy bears. Not only is word spreading, but so is the love.
Philippians 2:4 tells us to always look out for the needs of others, and I'm so grateful that this young man with a disability had a vision to help other children with challenges. I must tell you, though, that God took Phillip home at the age of 29 when he suffered an unfortunate accident. But his incredible legacy lives on – a legacy of care and compassion for other kids with disabilities. And I know this for a fact because last summer, Phillip’s Love Bears provided 1,311 stuffed teddy bears for all of our Family Retreats across the nation.
Looking back, I wonder if when Phillip was born there were those who thought he would have been better off not surviving. Well, if anyone entertained such a thought back then, it certainly has been resoundingly refuted. Because thousands of kids with disabling conditions are much better off today because of Phillip and his compassionate, caring heart. He lived out Philippians 2:4 with joy, dignity, and consummate commitment. It’s a great story for celebrating Sanctity of Life Sunday this weekend!
© Joni and Friends