Through “A Doll Like Me,” Amy Jandrisevits makes custom dolls that not only capture a child’s ethnicity, gender, hair color and interests, but also their physical characteristics such as clefts, birthmarks, scars and limb differences. As a social worker working in a pediatric oncology unit, Amy used dolls during play therapy sessions to help young cancer patients express their thoughts and feelings.
The dolls have made a positive impact on the children who receive them, Amy says. “It is more than just a doll to a child – it is a representation of the child who owns it.”
Amy considers “A Doll Like Me” a ministry. “As Christians, we’re called to action. There are [many] Bible verses that say, ‘Get up and go.’ Jesus himself said get up and do something, whatever your gift may be. We’re obligated to each other – that’s what community does. We take care of each other,” Amy said.
This message is excerpted from “Sew inspiring” by Cindy Novak in the September 2019 Gather magazine.
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