This is Percy. Otherwise known as Percival Fredrick the Second. A stuffed white polar bear toy just under a foot high. Actually it's shaped about halfway between a polar bear and a beanbag but it told me it was a polar bear. It used to be white but it's sort of dull greyy after so much love.
My Mum bought it for me, I think (either that or I bought it, I don't remember) just before the first time I went into hospital to have the first operation on my wrist, in 1989. That operation was the start of a lot of hospital visits (literally - it was years ago that I lost count of how many visits I've had) and Percy has faced every visit by my side, even sometimes getting his own arm band and coming into the operating theatre with me.
I don't just take him to hospital with me, although he always comes to hospital - he also often comes to the doctor with me, or therapist or a friend's place. I hug him when I cry. He'd be the first thing I'd dive for if there was a fire.
I'm trying to find a teddybear hospital to refill him because he's getting a bit "thin" after 11 years of being hugged and dragged around with me. No luck yet though.
I love Percy.
