Helping kids feel brave
through play
3D-printed medical model kits that empower children by explaining and normalizing medical care.
Our Growing Impact
Total Gifts Delivered
3,416 Bears • 5,328 Kits
Medical Kit Designs
And growing every day!
Smiles Created
Building courage and comfort through play
What People Are Saying
Recent Highlights
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Our Story
Medi Pals is a small family project inspired by our own hospital experience.
Back in 2012, our middle child, Ethan, was diagnosed with nephrotic syndrome at age 8. During his hospital stays, the incredible Child Life team used dolls to explain things like IVs. It brought him comfort and made everything feel a little less scary, and that experience stuck with us.
In 2025, when he was 12, our youngest, Neo, came up with an idea: what if we made medical kits for teddy bears, so other kids could feel more prepared and less afraid too? He started designing miniature kits on his computer, and what began as a simple idea quickly grew into a full family effort. Now 13, he continues to design every Medi Pals kit as the project evolves.
Now it's a full family effort, with Neo at the heart of it all. He leads the creative process, designing and continuously refining all 3D models based on real-world feedback. Tony (dad) brings those designs to life through 3D printing and manages production. Ella (older sister) contributes graphic art assets for the website and social media. Lisa (mom) sews the kits onto the bears, coordinates donations, and works directly with hospitals and clinics to make sure Medi Pals reach the kids who need them most. Ethan, now a young adult, continues to provide insight from his experience growing up with a chronic illness, ensuring the kits stay thoughtful and kid-friendly.
It's a family project with one simple goal: helping kids feel braver through play.
Neo, our in-house junior inventor, designs the 3D-printed parts that bring Medi Pals to life.
Ethan, age 8, with his medical doll during his hospital stay in 2012
Medi Pals spotted in the wild, on a mission of comfort and courage.
Our Kits
Each Medi Pal kit is carefully designed using kid-friendly materials. While the accessories are not functional medical devices, they are created for supervised use to help children understand medical care through therapeutic, imaginative play.
We currently have 59 designs and growing.
Follow us for real-time updates on new kits and donations!
Arm or Leg Cast
Features an arm or leg cast to help children understand casts and feel more comfortable with injury recovery.
Superstar Sibling Badge
Includes a Superstar Sibling badge to recognize the love, support, and encouragement siblings provide every day.
External Fixators
Features external fixators to help children understand orthopedic devices used to support bone healing.
Cancer Warrior Badge
Features a special badge that celebrates courage, resilience, and support during care.
Subcutaneous Infusion Pump
Features a subcutaneous infusion pump and butterfly set to help children understand medication infusions through play.
Endotracheal Intubation
Includes an endotracheal tube and breathing machine to help children understand breathing support equipment.
Chemo Bottle
Provides a gentle introduction to chemotherapy infusion accessories and tubing.
CPAP / BiPAP
Includes a CPAP/BiPAP mask and breathing machine to help children understand breathing support equipment.
IV
Includes an IV bag and tubing to help children understand intravenous treatments through play.
Arm Immobilizers
Helps children feel more comfortable with arm immobilizers by making the equipment familiar through play.
Nasal CPAP
Includes a nasal CPAP mask and breathing machine to help children understand breathing support equipment.
Blind / Low Vision
Features a cane, eyeglasses, and sunglasses to help children explore vision supports through play.
ICP Monitor
Features an intracranial pressure (ICP) monitor to help children understand how pressure inside the skull is measured.
Lung Surgery & Transplant
Represents lung surgery, including transplant, with a visible scar and matching badge.
Liver Surgery & Transplant
Represents liver surgery, including transplant, with a visible scar and matching badge.
Kidney Surgery & Transplant
Represents kidney surgery, including transplant, with a visible scar and matching badge.
Heart Surgery & Transplant
Represents heart surgery, including transplant, with a visible scar and matching badge.
Scope
Helps children understand how scopes are used to see inside the body through simple, hands-on play.
AV Fistula
Features an arteriovenous fistula to help children understand dialysis access in a gentle, approachable way.
Stoma & Ostomy Bag
Features a stoma with a detachable ostomy bag to support children adjusting to ostomies by making medical equipment feel less intimidating and more understandable.
Peritoneal Dialysis Machine
Designed to build comfort around peritoneal dialysis by making the equipment familiar and approachable.
Back & Neck Brace
Offers a reassuring way for children to learn about back and neck bracing and spinal support.
Jewett Brace
Provides a gentle way for children to explore how Jewett braces support the spine through hands-on play.
Ambulatory Infusion Pump
Helps kids understand wearable infusion pumps and feel more confident moving around with IV therapies.
Hemodialysis Catheter
Supports comfort and understanding around hemodialysis catheters used for dialysis treatments.
AFOs
Helps children feel more confident using ankle-foot orthoses (AFOs) by showing them how braces support movement.
Dual Lumen Vortex Port
Supports comfort and understanding around dual-port vascular access used in therapies such as red blood cell exchange.
Neonatal PD Catheter
Normalizes neonatal dialysis equipment and helps families connect with the care babies receive.
PD Catheter
Features a teddy-bear-sized peritoneal dialysis catheter. Helps children understand how their catheter connects to care and builds comfort through gentle, hands-on play.
Nebulizer
Includes a nebulizer machine with both mask and mouthpiece attachments to help children understand breathing treatments through therapeutic play.
NICU NG Tube
A teddy-bear-sized nasogastric feeding tube that helps siblings understand how babies in the NICU are fed, making unfamiliar equipment feel a little less scary.
Allergy & Asthma
Introduces children to inhalers, nasal sprays, and emergency injector pens through hands-on play.
VP Shunt
Normalizes ventriculoperitoneal shunt equipment and helps children feel more comfortable with hydrocephalus care.
Fearless In The Light, Shining Bright With Albinism
Helps children explore sun safety and vision tools in a fun, approachable way.
Chest Tube & Pump
Normalizes chest drainage equipment and reduces fear through teddy bear play.
Trache & Breathing Machine
Makes tracheostomy care and breathing assistance less intimidating through play.
Glucometer
Encourages comfort with glucose testing equipment and routines.
Urinary Catheter
Builds familiarity with urinary catheter equipment.
Eye Care
Introduces children to eye health and everyday eye care tools
Respiratory Care
Helps children get comfortable with breathing masks and machines.
Nasometer
Supports kids in understanding voice and airflow assessments.
Coagulometer
Builds comfort with blood clotting tests using hands-on learning.
Tubeless Pump & Monitor
Features a wearable continuous glucose monitor and a tubeless insulin pump to help kids understand how wireless diabetes management works.
Ultrasound Probe
Simulates an ultrasound probe to explore diagnostic imaging.
ECG
Includes 3-lead ECG sensors to help explain cardiac monitoring.
Stoma
Features a stoma for normalizing ostomy and colostomy care.
Pump & Monitor
Represents a continuous glucose monitor and insulin pump.
Port-A-Cath
Includes a velcro-access Port-A-Cath with tubing for realistic play.
Central Line
Simulates a central line with two ports for learning about medicine delivery and blood draws.
Trache
Features a trach site and neckband to help kids become familiar with tracheostomies.
G-Tube
Features a G-tube feeding port with a removable extension for feeding simulations.
Walker
Supports children adjusting to walkers and mobility aids through relatable play.
Butterfly
Builds understanding and confidence around butterfly needle procedures.
Crutches
Builds confidence for mobility assistance.
NG Tube
Builds comfort and understanding around NG tubes and feeding access.
Oxygen Cannula
Normalizes breathing support equipment through therapeutic play.
PICC Line
Teaches about IV access lines in a gentle, non-threatening way.
Oxygen Monitor
Makes oxygen monitoring less scary through familiar teddy bear play.
Cochlear Implant & Transducer
Helps children understand hearing devices and feel comfortable with assistive technology.
Get Involved
Whether you're a healthcare professional, a family in need, or someone who wants to support our mission, there's a way for you to help.
Request a free kit to help your child feel braver during medical visits. Free kit program currently available within Canada only.
Tap here to open a message in your email program, or email us directly at themedipals@gmail.com.
Our online store offers two ways to support Medi Pals:
• Purchase a kit to use or gift
• Donate-a-Kit to help us reach more families
Every purchase helps us donate more kits to kids in medical care.
