A doll just like Jordan
For years, Jordan has talked about wanting a doll that has a little arm just like her. It started as a topic of discussion when she was four-years-old and realized her American Girl doll didn’t look like her. The realization made Jordan sad. I even reached out to American Girl and the company will not make amputee dolls. Considering the cost of the dolls, I wasn’t going to try to create a limb difference on my own.
Fast forward to earlier this month, and a very kind woman named Amy reached outto me. She is an avid doll collector and crafter. Before she became a mom, she was a pediatric oncology social worker. She finds building dolls bring her two passions together: helping children and creating dolls. When a family reached out to her to build a limb difference doll, she realized there were probably many kids who don’t have a doll that looks like them.
Amy did a little research and found the post from this blog that focuses on the need for limb different dolls and how bummed I am that mainstream companies aren’t interested in helping our kids. We talked about her plans to launch a small business focused on building limb difference dolls. Fast forward to this week and TA DA! Jordan is the proud owner of “Little Boo.” (Jordan’s nickname is Boo.)
Jordan spent most of last night introducing her doll to our family and all of her stuffed animals. She even whispered to me so none of her other dolls could hear, “Don’t tell any of my other dolls, but Little Boo is my favorite.”
She spent all this morning with Little Boo and even talked me into letting her walk with her doll to school. (I carried Little Boo home.)
Amy has launched a Facebook page called, A Doll Like Me. She’s selling each custom, handcrafted doll for $45 with $5 from each doll going to help Camp No Limits! I think that is so super cool. If you’re interested, message Amy through her Facebook page. I can’t explain how happy Jordan is with her new doll. It’s so very sweet.
This makes me SO happy…as the maker AND as a doll lover. Every kid deserves to have a doll that looks like they do…and every doll deserves to be loved!!!
Thank you so much for constantly being on the front line when it comes to things for kids with limb differences and then passing along your great finds. My daughter is 2 and has a partial forearm, just below her elbow. Last night, she cried for the first time that she wanted two hands. My heart is just broken. She loves dolls and I cannot wait to get her a doll that looks like her. Thanks for all that you do.
Oh Emily, I know how hard it is when our kids are sad about their differences. I don’t know if you ever read my post about letting our kids mourn… But I hope it helps: http://www.bornjustright.org/2009/09/letting-her-mourn-a-bit/
Can I check, can you post to the uk and if so how much? Thanks
We got Shea a My Twinn Doll. It’s a 23″ doll. We sent photos of her face and hand and they made it look just like her! I was perfect!
Good night! I am from Costa Rica, I would like to buy a doll for my son, can you help me as I realize indicating purchase. Thank you !!
Hi Chris. If you are a member of Facebook, you can visit Amy, the dollmaker, on her page: https://www.facebook.com/nannysbabiestoodollslikeme
[…] animals.) One doll that means a lot to Jordan is her custom-made limb difference doll, “Little Boo.” Her sweet doll was made by a doll lover who knows how special it is for a child to have a […]