ManitobaCreator Network

Stuffy snuggles cheer heart-sick kids

Meet Siena Caterina Smith, a Winnipeg preteen on a mission to cheer tiny heart patients with their own cuddly friends. This new video was created by students in the Sisler High School Create program, in collaboration with CBC Manitoba's Creator Network.

Girl's mission to comfort kids subject of new short film by students at Winnipeg's Sisler High School

CBC News Posted: Feb 09, 2023 6:30 AM EST | Last Updated: February 9, 2023

How Luna the stuffy started a wave of cuddles for sick kids

2 years ago

2:58

Siena Caterina Smith is a stuffed animal angel. She started a charity that sends free, cuddly stuffies to kids who need heart surgery outside Manitoba and Saskatchewan. Video: Min Hecky Tresoor, Kaitlyn Caballero, Shaina Maralit

In a recovery crib inside B.C. Children's Hospital, baby Sienna Caterina Smith made a friend for life.

The one-year-old Manitoba girl needed heart surgery and Luna was her crib mate.

"When we arrived at the hospital, they gave Siena Luna, and Siena just gravitated to Luna, like any child would," said Sabrina Castellano Smith, Siena's mom.

Luna was big on snuggles butshy on conversation. It didn't matter, becauseLunathe stuffygave Siena, the sick baby, comfort.

A decade later, Luna and Siena are still best buds. And Siena has made it her mission to give other sick kids a stuffy for comfort after heart surgery.

In 2021, Siena and her parents started I Heart Bear Hugs, a charity that delivers stuffed animals to kids in Manitoba and Saskatchewan who have to leave their home province for heart surgery.

A girl sits with her dog and stuffies. — Manitoba girl Siena Caterina Smith, with Luna her stuffy, started her charity in 2021. She has since collected 600 stuffed animals for children with heart trouble. (Min Hecky Tresoor)

"When we started this fundraiser, I honestly thought we would collect 50 teddy bears. It's hard to believe that 12 months later, 600 teddy bears have been donated in Manitoba and Saskatchewan," said Siena's mom, Sabrina Castellano Smith.

"It makes me feel good that other kids are getting affected by this fundraiser," said Siena, 11.

Siena's mission to give bears to sick kids is now the focus of I Heart Bear Hugs, a new short profile video.

The video is the work of Min Hecky Tresoor, Kaitlyn Caballeroand Shaina Maralit, three filmmaking students fromtheCreate programat Sisler High School in Winnipeg, which offers multimedia training and experience.The three filmmakers worked incollaboration withCBC Manitoba's Creator Network.