Laura’s guest for this and the following episode is Marcella Johnson. Over twenty years ago, Marcella knew she would be losing her son, George, at birth because of a rare, fatal disease that would not allow him to live outside the womb.
This interview with Marcella is part of the “How to Help Your Child Leave a Legacy” series. But the discussion surrounding the death of Marcella’s son was so rich with encouragement and new perspectives, it needed to be its own episode.
Join us next week for part two, when we will hear from Marcella what she has been doing for the past twenty years, which is allowing her to leave a legacy in a powerful way for her son, Geroge.
Marcella Johnson invented the world’s very first weighted 
therapeutic teddy bear after the death of her son, George Gabriel Johnson, on April 11, 1999. When she first began she made each teddy bear by hand and personally delivered them to every hospital in her hometown of San Diego, CA. The Comfort Cub is now in top hospitals across the USA and is used on every continent to help alleviate grief and trauma.
Although it was originally created for mothers who lose a child, The Comfort Cub has effectively been used to provide profound relief for the loss of any loved one, adoptions, trauma, occupational and autism therapy. She also works closely with the San Diego Police Department in their Trauma Intervention Program, The SD County Emergency Shelter for Children, Domestic Violence Centers and Forensic Health and child abuse victims. Her goal is to help bring healing to anyone experiencing a significant loss or trauma in their life.
She has won several awards for helping those in need including the Soroptimist International “Women Helping Women Award, The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation “Women to Watch Award”, The Channel 10 “Leadership Award” and has received Special Congressional Recognition for outstanding and invaluable service to her community.
Marcella is the mother of five children, has been married for 32 years and lives in San Diego, California. She is a graduate of the University of California at Santa Barbara and has been a tireless volunteer to many non-profit organizations in the San Diego area.
Links referred to in this podcast episode:
Marcella’s website: The Comfort Cub
Laura’s book: When Tragedy Strikes: Rebuilding Your Life with Hope and Healing after the Death of Your Child
GPS Hope travel schedule and events
Birthdays:
Sean Kelly was born on February 22nd and is forever 44.
Dennis Santos was born on February 23rd and is forever 31.
If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.
The special song written for our children’s birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here.
Remember to Hold On Pain Eases; there is HOPE!
To have Laura come and minister at your event, contact us at office@gpshope.org.
Grieving Parents Sharing Hope (GPS Hope) is here to walk with parents through the darkness of child-loss, guiding them to a place of hope, light and purpose.
It is a safe place for anyone who has lost a child from this earth. There is no shame or judgment in where you are in this journey, including if you are struggling in your relationship with God or your faith has been completely shattered.
Christian school for 15 years before retiring from teaching to focus on writing. Themes of hope, faith, and trust in the goodness of God permeate Sara’s writing. She authentically testifies to the goodness of God, not because He keeps bad things from happening, but because He strengthens us, comforts us, weeps with us, walks with us, and carries us through, enabling us to overcome whatever happens. 
and found out nothing has changed. The numbers of drownings were still the same and there were still too many families with a similar story of children drowning in front of a lifeguard. God has given Rick favor to be a voice and to help bring awareness of water safety to others in Kelsey’s name.
piece of my very being gone from this earth?
deep grief is a reminder of my deep love that cannot be poured out on my child right now. But someday we will be together again, and all this stored up love will be dumped on my child! And Father, I ask that right now, you would give my child a big hug from me, and love on them in my place. Thank you.
hours after birth while in her mother’s arms. As Crystal grieved the loss of her only child, she began to feel isolated and ill-equipped to handle her emotional journey. Vowing to honor her daughter’s brief life and to support others from feeling as lost and lonely as she did, Sharing Solace was founded, which brings together those grieving any type of loss by providing physical keepsake gifts intended to be ‘paid forward’ to others.
