In 2007 our 4 kids asked, for each of their birthdays, that the whole family make a teddy bear at Univers Toutou, and make a family wish before filling the
bear’s heart.

During our last visit, in May, our kids noticed that there were wedding outfits for the bears, and that’s how our bears got married with us on July 7th.

Carole and Pierre-Louis
And our children – Sarah, Elizabeth, Annie and Vincent

Laura-Kim and I are on a cloud.  We spent an unforgettable day, the day of our dreams.  What you have done for my daughter may seem small and simple to you, but for Laura-Kim and me, it was one of the most beautiful things that we have experienced.

I am often told that adopting is a nice thing to have done, but I always respond: “You’ve got it backwards; it isn’t her who’s the lucky one, it’s me.  She gives me so much and I’ve learned enormously from her.”  With her handicap, she has shown me that in life, you have to appreciate what you have and to persevere.

You’ve probably guessed that we visit the hospital quite often, for all sorts of reasons.  So when we were asked if we wanted to do something for the 100th anniversary of the Ste-Justine hospital, we never imagined it would be so wonderful.  The night before the event, I told Laura-Kim she would meet “Annie Villeneuve”.  She was so excited… but she didn’t understand the concept that she would only be seen on TV another day.  (Some things are more difficult for her to grasp due to her hemiplegia).

It all started when Laura-Kim saw Annie walk into the boutique.  She was so awestruck that it was like there was no one else around them.  And I, from a distance, watched everything that was going on and watched my daughter make her own teddy bear with her idol, and play with her…. It was wonderfully moving, and I was so happy.

When we left the boutique, Laura-Kim said to me “Mommy, I’m so happy, and wouldn’t it be fun to take Annie home with us just like the teddy bear and then be able to play with her? She is so pretty and so nice.”  Laura-Kim hasn’t parted with the bear since she got it and she keeps playing the message Annie recorded just for her.

We’d like to thank you with all our hearts: TQS, Ste-Justine, Univers Toutou and most of all, Annie Villeneuve, to have given us the opportunity to make a little girl’s dream come true.

Hello Marie-Ève from Québec City, I wanted to thank you for helping me
make my new friend, Charles the elephant.  We had so much fun together in Québec and now we are back in Montreal where he has met all my other
stuffed animals!

As promised, I’m taking good care of him!

Have a great day
Rosalie