COUNTYWIDE : CHOC Offers ‘Clinic’ for Teddy Bears

Children’s Hospital of Orange County will offer free “checkups” for teddy bears, stuffed animals and dolls on Sunday.

Youngsters can bring their favorite toys to a “Teddy Bear Clinic” from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at MainPlace/Santa Ana mall, in front of Nordstrom’s.

The clinic, conducted in honor of the October opening of the hospital’s new six-story building, will offer children a chance to check their bears or dolls into a make-believe clinic.

Children will pass through a waiting room and an admitting area, where their bears will get identification bracelets, and then on to an examination room.

Hospital nurses will check the height, weight, temperature, eyes, ear, nose and heart of each bear, while youngsters don free surgical caps and masks and assist with the exams.

Youngsters can also aid in putting casts on “broken” bear legs and arms. After each examination, the patients will get a prescription for a free lollipop and a “certificate of beary good health.”

CHOC’s bear mascot will be on hand to greet children, and stores throughout the mall will offer special games and prizes for children.

CHOC will unveil its new building Oct. 13, when the public is invited to visit from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free parking will be available across the street from the hospital, which is at 455 S. Main St., Orange.