Teddy Bear Hugs | Parenting OC

Brooke Walker delivers a donation of Higgy Bears to CHOC.
(Photo Courtesy of the Walker Family)

This Tesoro High teen with scoliosis gives support and teddy bears to others like her

On the outside, Brooke Walker always seemed like a happy, successful teenager — earning As in school, involved in extracurricular activities such as musical theater, choir, dance and hanging out with her friends. On the inside, life, or rather her body, was about to throw her a major curve.

In October 2021, the 15-year-old’s father noticed a weird hump in her back. It turned out to be a symptom of advanced scoliosis — a curvature in the spine that was becoming more painful, causing her to collapse in school hallways and threatening to potentially land her in a wheelchair. Within weeks, she was getting ready for a major surgery that would determine the quality of the rest of her life.

“It was kind of shocking considering I was just like a normal, healthy teenager,” the Las Flores resident said. “It was eight weeks between when I found out I had it, and when I had surgery, so I didn’t really have a ton of time to process.”

Not knowing anyone with the same condition, Walker and her family navigated the situation on their own, and while CHOC doctors and hospital pamphlets provided medical information, it wasn’t the same as connecting with someone who had gone through the same thing.

“It’s different getting advice from somebody who’s experienced it than someone who just medically knows the science of it,” she said.

The recovery, missing months of classes at Tesoro High School, and adjusting to the newly limited abilities of her body, left her feeling lonely and sometimes misunderstood by her peers who just couldn’t relate to her decreased stamina or inability to do certain everyday things such as tying her shoes. Her surgery was successful, but scoliosis was here to stay as a chronic condition, and she decided to turn the traumatic experience into something positive that would benefit other young patients.

“She feels different than other people because of what she went through and not that many people go through this,” said Walker’s mom, Randee, pointing out the screws and metal rods in her back as well as the scar along her daughter’s spine.

Walker got involved with several organizations, including P.S. You’re Not Alone at CHOC and the Orange County chapter of Curvy Girls, and became a scoliosis mentor. So far, she has worked with about 50 patients and many more through her Instagram account @scoliosis.brooke. It’s through these efforts that she’s not only able to give back but be seen, understood and find new friends nationwide.

“I was in their shoes, and I understand what it’s like to go through the experience without anyone to mentor you, and so I want to be that person to other people who are going to the surgery,” she said. “Something I never had, and I definitely wish I had.”

*Brooke Walker with a Higgy Bear. The teenager raised funds to buy and donate the special bears with scars to scoliosis patients at CHOC.*
*(Photo Courtesy of the Walker Family)*

She also discovered a nonprofit, Higgy Bears, which sells teddy bears, other animals and dolls with braces and scars like those of scoliosis patients to help them feel less alone. A fan of teddy bears throughout her life, Walker decided to raise funds to buy a few and give them to children in the hospital. She surpassed her $200 goal and $1,500 later bought 40 bears that she delivered to CHOC to be handed out to children going into surgery. Her GoFundMe page remains open and she intends to continue giving back.

“I’ve always just loved teddy bears and so they always brought me so much joy and being able to give that joy to other kids is something that’s really special,” she said.

By Magda Hernandez