Meet Jeanette: Comfort Doll Knitter Extraordinaire!

In Papamoa, 83-year-old Jeanette is knitting away on another heart-warming comfort doll for a child going through cancer treatment in New Zealand. 

Children on treatment often experience tough emotions and are isolated while their immune system is diminished. For them, a little something to cuddle can go a long way during procedures and time away from other children or loved ones.

That’s why Jeanette took up the knitting needles on her newfound passion project in October last year.  

Jeanette’s knitted many delightful creations for her grandchildren, their friends and now her great grandies. Then, when she came across a Canadian initiative called Izzy Dolls, something really stirred. 

Izzy Dolls are named after late Master Corporal Mark “Izzy” Isfeld who gave out comfort dolls made by his mother to children in war-torn areas. Decades after he died in service in 1994, hundreds of Canadian knitters and crocheters continue the legacy, with Izzy Dolls distributed to children far and wide in crises zones around the world. The pattern is available for anyone who would like to make dolls, too. 

When Jeanette saw the Izzy Doll story on YouTube last year, she decided then and there to get the pattern and start making comfort dolls for Child Cancer Foundation.

Jeanette’s daughter Angie had passed away in 2022, and the close family has felt the loss deeply ever since. Making comfort dolls brought a spark of inspiration after years of sorrow for Jeanette.  

“The grief has been overwhelming for us all, and also my great-grandies. They still miss their Nana. When I found you at Child Cancer Foundation it was a bit of a lifeline. I have knitted all my life and my little great-grandies have so many knitted toys. When I saw the comfort dolls on YouTube I thought to myself, I could make those for other little children to cuddle and love. The Foundation was the first place I rang to see if I could donate.” — Jeanette 

Although Jeanette is in good health, she’s not as mobile as she used to be. She describes making the dolls as being a blessing for her since last year – it’s a joyful activity that keeps her busy and makes her smile. 

The dolls bring joy to the children who receive them, too. Whenever Jeanette has a new batch of comfort dolls ready to find their new homes, our Family Support Coordinator Jess will go and pick them up and help distribute them to other Coordinators to give to children in Child Cancer Foundation’s care. 

“One I gave away this week was to a newborn baby and the mum got all teary that people would be so kind as to spend their time doing something like this.  She said it would be forever a special part of her little girl’s cancer story.” — Janine, Family Support Coordinator 

Another family who recently received one of Jeanette’s comfort dolls was in isolation with an infectious illness while undergoing chemotherapy. It meant the child couldn’t go to the playroom each day to interact and play with others. 

“She cried out in delight and said ‘a present!’ and then sat and hugged and stroked and played with the hair on the doll for the whole hour I was with them. She was so focused on tenderly caring for her knitted doll.” — Janine, Family Support Coordinator 

Coming in all sorts of skin tones and hair colours, Jeanette’s dolls are inclusive as well — something parents and children appreciate, which makes Jeanette beam with delight. Her next dolls will feature no hair, like many of the children who receive them so they can feel seen and presented too.  

Jeanette says this journey of making comfort dolls will continue as long as possible. 

“I love it. It gives me immense pleasure. It honestly does. I’m doing it for a reason – it’s a hobby that, every time I finish a doll, I look at it and I think ‘somebody’s going to love you when you’re at your forever home.’ I am 83 years young, and so happy that I can keep knitting and give more children the pleasure of these little comfort dolls.” — Jeanette