The teddy bears that were recently given to cancer nurses Maureen Bracco and Joanne Stranieri hold the mystical ability to make them both smile and cry, often at the same time.

The soft, fuzzy bears were given to the nurses, who work at the Hartford HealthCare Cancer Institute at The Hospital of Central Connecticut, by the widowed husband of patient Elisa Brayall as a tribute to the care they provided his wife.

Elisa, 52, recently died after a five-year battle with ovarian cancer. During her treatment, she formed a close bond with Bracco and Stranieri, sharing her fears and anxieties about her treatment. Before long, Elisa became like a family member to the nurses, asking about their lives at home and inspiring the nurses with her resilience and sense of humor.

After her death, her husband (who asked that we not use his first name) decided to show his appreciation for the compassionate care the nurses provided his wife by taking the trademark T-shirts she always wore to her cancer appointments, and having them stuffed as teddy bears.

“I can’t help but get very sentimental about something like this,” said Bracco, who works in the gynecologic practice at the cancer center in New Britain. “I will always smile in my heart when I hold this bear and think about the number of times she made us laugh. But it’s very hard to keep from crying, too.”

Bracco described Elisa as a woman of deep faith who somehow always maintained a positive and hopeful outlook.  Bracco said Elisa was an integral part of the gynecologic cancer support group at the cancer center, and would always reach out to other patients to try to make them more comfortable and less afraid.

The impact of the teddy bears, Bracco said, is a reminder that nurses care for much more than patients’ illness, but also their emotional, physical and spiritual well-being.  That often means that caregivers are vulnerable but in the end, it’s worth it because of the difference they can make by offering comfort and healing to another human being.

“Losing Elisa was one of the hardest for both of us,” Bracco said.  But despite the sadness, the bears are also a reminder that the work that nurses and other caregivers do matters, not only to patients but to their families, she said.