Reborns With Reasons

Reborns With Reasons RWR is an outreach program that uses reborn dolls as therapy-type tools for those with dementia. I provide dementia focused therapeutic services only.

Requests for free dolls are outside what I offer and won’t be answered.

As I greeted my hospice client, she welcomed baby Coralai with open arms. She’s a chunk I warned her as she took this ch...
06/17/2026

As I greeted my hospice client, she welcomed baby Coralai with open arms. She’s a chunk I warned her as she took this chubster from me into her fragile arms. I helped position Coralai as to not put too much pressure on this frail woman. “I got her.” she affirmed with a smile. By the end of our visit, I propped Coralai up on a pillow so my client could still enjoy her without the strain of her weight.

We had a wonderful visit together. My client was full of conversation. Much of which consisted of words that were too soft to quite make out though. But I did my best to piece words together and respond accordingly. Sometimes my client would break out in a laugh. I don’t know if she was laughing at me or with me, but I prefer to think it was the latter.

As I pulled out my phone to grab a pic, my client eagerly asked to see. Her eyes lit up like the New York skyline. They were full of wonder and delight. Imagine being 97 years old and seeing a photo at your fingertips in an instant that wasn’t a Polaroid. I then went on to show her photos of my dog and my cat. Something as simple as swiping through my photos brought her so much joy.

“Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does.” -William James

06/15/2026

She wanted a photo with the baby to send to her sister. We joked about telling her she’d adopted a baby.

But shortly after, her eyes filled with tears. She told me how much she loved holding this little one because it reminded her of her son.

In a matter of minutes, we went from laughter to memories.

Moments like these remind me that sometimes a doll is more than a doll. Sometimes it’s a bridge to a cherished memory and someone deeply loved.

During a visit to memory care, I noticed one woman holding baby Leah especially close.She looked down at her, smiled, an...
06/15/2026

During a visit to memory care, I noticed one woman holding baby Leah especially close.

She looked down at her, smiled, and very matter-of-factly informed me:

“She decided to nurse.”

I couldn’t help but smile.

To some, it may seem like a simple comment. But moments like these often offer a glimpse into how individuals living with dementia are making sense of the world around them. The desire to nurture, comfort, and care for another person can remain long after many other memories have faded.

I certainly wasn’t expecting baby Leah to decide she was hungry during our visit, but she apparently had other plans.

What I saw wasn’t confusion. I saw compassion, connection, and a woman responding to what she believed this baby needed in that moment.

And honestly, that’s a beautiful thing.

She saw her mother holding a doll.I saw her mother beaming from ear to ear.She thought the doll was too deceiving.I thin...
06/14/2026

She saw her mother holding a doll.

I saw her mother beaming from ear to ear.

She thought the doll was too deceiving.

I think dementia is far more deceiving.

She wanted to leave.

Her mother wanted to stay.

She was uncomfortable.

Her mother was comforted.

Two people, seeing two very different things.

The question is… whose reality mattered in that moment?

When I entered the bedroom of my hospice client, I was happy to see that she was already awake. Many days I have to nudg...
06/14/2026

When I entered the bedroom of my hospice client, I was happy to see that she was already awake. Many days I have to nudge her out of a slumber. But what I didn’t expect, nor have I experienced with her before, was for her to be angry and attemptingly physically aggressive.

She tried to hit, swat, grab and push anything in her reach; that included me. She was shouting obscenities and even told me to “get the f #*k out.” Through years of research, trainings and experience, I knew to not take this behavior personally. The only thing I could do was to stay calm and speak to her softly and calmly, which I did.

My patience paid off and once I was able to get her focused enough on the presence of baby Benjamin, I was then able to place him safely and comfortably in her arms. And like magic, he brought her to a place of tranquility almost instantly.

“Let all you do be done in love.”

Her breakfast sat untouched.Then baby Falyn was placed in her arms.As she cradled the baby, she began eating independent...
06/11/2026

Her breakfast sat untouched.

Then baby Falyn was placed in her arms.

As she cradled the baby, she began eating independently and finished her entire meal.

A little comfort.
A little purpose.
A big difference.

During a recent visit to memory care, hydration time took an unexpected turn. One sweet woman thought that baby Vivienne...
06/10/2026

During a recent visit to memory care, hydration time took an unexpected turn.

One sweet woman thought that baby Vivienne might be thirsty. She took her cup of cranberry juice and offered Vivienne a sip. Vivienne sat smiling almost like she welcomed the offer.

To be completely honest, I thought the woman was simply pretending to give the baby a drink, hence why I have the first two photos.

However, she was not pretending.

Before I knew it, cranberry juice was making its way into Vivienne’s mouth. Swallow Vivi, I thought. Swallow. But Vivienne did not swallow and juice quickly dribbled down onto her outfit.

Rather than panic or correct the woman , I thanked her for being so thoughtful and explained that Vivienne had enjoyed a bottle of milk before our visit and that juice wasn’t quite appropriate for a baby her age just yet.

She seemed relieved to know that Vivienne had already been fed and was happy knowing she was being well cared for.

As for Vivienne? She wore a little cranberry juice home on her outfit that day.

Thankfully, after a generous amount of stain stick and a two trips through the wash, her clothes came out looking brand new and her cloth body underneath was completely unharmed.

In the end, I wasn’t left with a stained doll. I was left with a reminder of something much more important: a woman who saw a baby she believed was thirsty and wanted to help. And that’s a kindness worth preserving.

What a FABULOUS time at the East Village Place vendor appreciation event!A huge thank you to the staff for putting toget...
06/09/2026

What a FABULOUS time at the East Village Place vendor appreciation event!

A huge thank you to the staff for putting together such a wonderful evening. It was great spending time with so many people who are passionate about serving our senior community.

And the highlight of the night?

Therapy doll Leah got to meet therapy dog Karma. How cute!

I am always amazed by how the brain works. Especially in those with dementia. There “baby Sullivan” lie snuggled in the ...
06/08/2026

I am always amazed by how the brain works. Especially in those with dementia.

There “baby Sullivan” lie snuggled in the arms of one woman. He wore sage green pants, a dinosaur matching in color on his shirt. And on his feet, a pair of tan sneakers.

I watched as this woman’s brain went to work. I could imagine the gears inside going a mile a minute. She spoke of Sullivan’s sound slumber. As gravity caused the weight of his head to shift on its own, she stated that he was in a deep sleep now.

But then her thoughts began to shift. As she gently stroked Sullivan’s head with her hand she told me that he has more hair than most men his age. I tried to picture what she was seeing but my own brain just couldn’t figure it out.

Then she told me how she has been training Sullivan for football. She said that he had been out on the field all day and that’s why he’s so tired now. She pointed to the tan sneakers on his tiny feet and told me that these sneakers help him to run fast. Again she mentioned the sleeping Sully, adding that she just can’t toss him out on the field while he’s so tired.

Some will ask how I respond to this type of situation. My answer, I always enter the world of the person I am engaging with. In this instance, I simply asked what team Sully plays for. And in case you’re wondering, he plays for the dinosaurs. 😉

During one of my recent visits to memory care, I met a woman who was quite concerned about how I managed to care for fou...
06/07/2026

During one of my recent visits to memory care, I met a woman who was quite concerned about how I managed to care for four babies at once.

She asked lots of questions about the help I had at home. How thoughtful!

As my visit came to an end and I started gathering up the babies, she looked at me with genuine concern and asked, “How on earth are you going to get them all home?”

I assured her that I had a car big enough for everyone. That seemed to ease her mind… at least for a moment.

Then came her next question:

“Do they all have their own seats?”

I couldn’t help but smile. Because I’m fairly certain she was picturing four precious babies safely buckled into their own car seats.

Meanwhile, the reality was that all four were about to be tucked snugly together in my bassinet bag for the ride home.

Yes,” I replied. “Yes, they do.”

And just like that, she was satisfied knowing every baby would be getting home safely. 🤭

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460 West St
Ludlow, MA
01056

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