WE ❤️ OUR MEMBERS!

Being in the Build-A-Bear Bonus Club means you’re part of a community that comes together to celebrate, give back and have a lot of fun! We’re excited to share some of our members’ stories with you!

Emz's Story - Build-A-Bear Community Dear Build-A-Bear,
I am writing to let you know how I feel about Build-A-Bear. I hope this can remind you of how special your bears are.

My name is Emz, and I’m about to turn 18. When I left home at 13, I was really scared and lonely. I came into care with none of my things, just some school books. I’ve always loved teddies because they are so special. For the first five months of being in foster care, I moved nine times. Up until May I was so alone, so when I went to my ninth foster home in Plymouth, I didn’t get my hopes up. I went upstairs and sat on my bed. Just another house. After about five days, my lovely foster mum took me into town to get some clothes. I felt more love in those few days than in the past few years. We walked past the Build-A-Bear in Plymouth and she offered me a bear. I cannot tell you the comfort this brought me. And it wasn’t just a teddy from a shop.

We spent a few hours in Build-A-Bear. I got my most treasured teddy, outfits, and happiness. I named my Build-A-Bear bunny Plymouth. She is not an ordinary bunny, nor is she an average Build-A-Bear. Please let me share with you why.

After a little over a week living somewhere that felt like a home, I needed to move back to Cornwall (where I am originally from) to be closer to school again. But it wasn’t so bad with Plymouth the bunny by my side. In the end, I was blessed with being able to move back in with my foster mum in Plymouth, which we thought would be permanent. It went well and Plymouth, of course, came everywhere with me! We made new memories, tried new foods and formed a family.

But on September 8, 2017, I began what would be a 47-day hospital stay. My other hospital stays had only been up to about 2 weeks maximum. However, this time I had Plymouth. While I was there, a nurse mentioned that she had the exact same Build-A-Bear bunny at home, and she said she would bring it in for me to have. With this new bunny named Devon given to me, I now had bunny twins! I held Plymouth and Devon in my arms as I received the news that I was to be transferred to a children’s home in Devon. (Although just before this, I saw another Build-A-Bear bunny at a table sale! I had to get her, don’t you agree?)

So, now I had three Build-A-Bear bunnies: Plymouth, Devon and Somerset! Over the next months, I would move six more times. They were some of the hardest months of my life. But Plymouth and the other two bunnies were always there. Thank you – it means more than you know.

Flash forward to January 8, 2020. I became sick again. This wasn’t unusual since the past years were spent in and out of hospital, but it was still no easier. I remember very little about late 2019 and early 2020. I was feeling too poorly, but Plymouth stood by me. I have too many occasions to list, but some ways that she helped me were as simple as her soft ears drying my eyes, or as tough as helping me talk through trauma. She supported my head during seizures and grounded me during my worst hours. As dramatic as it may sound – she saved my life a few times too.

There’s some brighter news now. By the end of May 2020, I was able to go outside. It was amazing, despite the pandemic. It’s now been a year, and since then I have not been outside without Plymouth once! She is my savior.

I stayed in hospital until November 27, 2020, and my recovery started to show. When I tell you that Plymouth is the most loved bunny in the whole of the hospital, I’m not exaggerating! From her adorable outfits, to the way she’s helped other patients, and just her overall fluffiness – she’s stayed with me through everything. I have no doubt this will be a forever friendship. I know that you probably get loads of customers saying how much they love their teddies (and I’m not surprised!), but I really need you to know how magical Plymouth is to me.

Since I came out of hospital, it’s been a continuous journey. I seem to have collected a few more bunnies too! So, after Plymouth, Devon and Somerset joined my heart… Next came Cornwall, who I got in August 2021, then when I was well enough to travel a bit further, I got another bunny a few days later, and called her Saltash. By September I felt I just had to get the giant bunny; and the only name that seemed fitting was England! During my recovery small steps are the wins, so we got another one called Falmouth too. It was then one of my carers birthdays in February 2022, and because she LOVES Plymouth, we got her a bunny too and called it Ghana (where she’s from). Ghana plays with the other bunnies and is finding it a bit difficult to leave their side to go home!

Of course, I also have a few other fury friends that I should mention, else they get jealous. Eliza is a dog that I got when I was moved out of the county again. Shazza is a unicorn from the first time that my foster sibling and I went on a day out. Ohana is a rainbow bunny that I bought when I thought I had found my forever home. My carers had even put a recorded voice message in her paw saying how much they love me! I still love them. Buttons is a bear that my friend got me when she went back to live with her mum. Trixie and Chicken Nugget are the sprinkle dog and the lion. Stacycorn is a special unicorn who reminds me that I’m loved. Mrs brown is a bear that my carer got me for Christmas with her voice in it. Purdy is a brown Labrador in memory of my favorite pup growing up. Finally, Faith is a rainbow bunny that I got as a reminder to always have faith.

Those are all my Build-A-Bears! Each one has a meaning, such as moving to one of my 25 placements, or coping with some tough things. But Plymouth is still the most precious to me. Her birthday is on May 31! Emz's Story - Build-A-Bear Community