‘A Smile Tugged at Her Lips’: How Therapy Dolls Brought His Grandma Back from Dementia
One touching moment with Grandma Alice led Chris Stewart to spread comfort through therapy dolls
Key Takeaways
- Chris Stewart started donating lifelike baby dolls to honor his late Grandma Alice.
- The dolls help soothe agitation and restore a sense of purpose for seniors.
- Chris raised over $10,000 to deliver comforting dolls to local Boise facilities.
The lifelike dolls Chris Stewart spotted on Facebook reminded him of his Grandma Alice, and he soon found a way to use them to help others! Here, he shares his story with Woman’s World.
Chris Stewart was scrolling Facebook Marketplace one evening when he came across an unusual listing: three lifelike baby dolls for $200 each.
The dolls were a warm reminder. “Grandma Alice,” he gave a wistful smile.
Chris grew up with a single mom who worked as a flight attendant. When she traveled for work, his Grandma Alice always took care of him. Chris was a teen when his grandmother came to live with him, his mom and new stepdad. But not long after, Grandma Alice misplaced things and began asking the same questions over and over.
“Your grandmother is suffering from dementia,” his mom explained. “Try to stay patient with her.”
Chris’ mom eventually had to make the heartbreaking decision to move her into a memory care center, and Chris grew up, moved away and began a career in radio and real estate in Boise, Idaho. He flew home often to visit, but Alice’s condition deteriorated.
“She doesn’t recognize anyone,” his mom explained. “She’s scared, and it makes her frustrated and angry.”
When Chris and his mom went to visit, they brought a baby doll to comfort Grandma Alice.
“Her name’s Susie,” Chris said, handing her the doll. For a second, the entire world seemed to stand still. Alice’s eyes cleared, and a wide smile tugged at her lips. “Chris!” she exclaimed. “It’s wonderful to see you!”
So when Chris spotted the dolls on Facebook that evening, he bought them all. He posted his grandma’s story and offered, “If any memory care facility could use one of these dolls, let me know.”
Responses were immediate, and within days, all three dolls had new homes. When staff members at Boise facilities began telling Chris about the positive transformations they were witnessing, he decided to do more.
Chris launched a fundraiser on TheGoodNetworkOrg.org and mentioned it to a local TV anchor friend. “If I can raise $3,000, I can put a doll in every local facility,” he said. He ended up raising over $10,000!
Now, each of the 10 residents at The Pointe at Meridian memory care facility has a doll. “They help keep our residents calm and alert,” says Director Karen Zanelli.
According to Chris, the dolls fill a void that dementia creates. “The dolls give them purpose and something to love.”
And with every story he hears, Chris thinks of Grandma Alice and how one doll brought her back to him for a few moments.
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