I love bears. I actually collect them and have 100’s of them but when my Grandma made me one for a surgery that had my name on the clothes I just loved it. Being in the hospital is really scary but I am kind of an expert at it. I have had 18 surgeries and I am 10 years old. Most of them have been on my brain or spine.

My family is always with me in the hospital but they can’t go to the operating room with me. So, when I say goodbye to them, I always hold on real tight to my bears. When I wake up, they are right there with me and then my mom and dad come.

I am so happy to have other kids that have bears like me. It is cool for all of us ‘hospital kids’ to have our very own club! Send me an email when you can and let me know how much you love your bear.

I was thinking the other day that you might be getting bored of laying around in that bed so BatBear and I made you a funny video of his stuff.

I have some more funny videos and stories that I wrote for you here: Carter’s World

Can you make a video or write a story about your new bear? I want to see it!

**A note from Carters mom. Carter has always collected bears. To him, they are real. Each has a personality and story. He really does have hundreds of them. I am so grateful to my mother-in-law for providing a way for Carter to feel like he is helping other kids in the same situation as he is. Carter was born with spina bifida and hydrocephalus and is diagnosed with autism as well. Despite all of this, he is a pretty typical kid who loves his computer, friends, family, and BEARS!