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Chloe is an 18 year old with a prothetic leg. Growing up, she never had a doll that looked like her. Understandably, she was overjoyed when she saw the Barbie® Fashionista™ #121 doll with one.
“I really was like oh my gosh, oh my gosh, finally a doll representing that segment of the population!”
She decided she wanted to collect as many of the dolls as she could find. She’d been a patient of Shriners Hospital for Children where she’d received prosthetic services since she was a toddler, and she knew how much the dolls would mean to the other kids there.
Her mother created a campaign through her social media accounts asking friends and family to buy any of the dolls they see for Chloe’s collection, offering to pay for each one. One of her tweets went viral and Barbie retweeted with this comment: The world needs #MoreRoleModels like Chloe. Sending a little something your way, @shrinershosp.
We are happy to see the Fashionista 121 @Barbie donated by Chloe, a patient at @SHCSpringfield, and @Mattel are being shared with our #orthotic and #prosthetic teams around our health care system, for kids with limb differences. pic.twitter.com/RCvcYTu2JV
— Shriners Children's (@shrinershosp) November 6, 2019
Chloe’s family dining room filled with dolls and no one wanted reimbursement. Shortly after, Chloe and her mom delivered 400 dolls to Springfield Shriners Hospital. Mattel sent an additional 200.
Brock McConkey, CPO, manager, Pediatric Orthotic and Prosthetic Services (POPS) — Northeast, LLC says,
“The donated dolls will serve as tools in therapeutic education and medical play for kids facing amputation – and their siblings – to help explain their situation.”
This. Is. Amazing and the best birthday present for #millielynn. Thanks to @Barbie for making a doll with a prosthetic leg that looks like mine. This makes me so happy. ♥️ pic.twitter.com/cwRIHg4vK9
— Melissa Stockwell (@MStockwell01) August 13, 2019
McConkey was Chloe’s prosthetist who has fabricated and fitted Chloe with her legs for most of her life. Chloe calls him the inspiration behind her donation.
The dolls will be shared across 16 Shriners Children’s Hospital locations to lift up and cheer on prosthetics patients.
Check them out if you get a chance!
