Teddy Bears That Help Heal Broken Hearts, Literally, Reach Local Fire-Traumatized Students

When Marcella Johnson lost her infant son George, her grief led her to create something unexpected: a teddy bear that hospitals, the FBI, and trauma centers now use to heal broken hearts — literally.

On Wednesday, Johnson’s nonprofit delivered 1,000 of these weighted therapeutic bears to Pasadena Unified School District and the Los Angeles County Office of Education, supporting students and staff traumatized by January’s devastating fires in Pasadena and Altadena. 

The Comfort Cubs, as they’re known, aren’t ordinary stuffed animals. When pressed against the chest, their weight triggers the release of serotonin, dopamine, and oxytocin — hormones that calm the nervous system and can even ease stress-induced cardiomyopathy, known as Broken Heart Syndrome.

“This is more than just a stuffed bear,” said Johnson, who founded The Comfort Cub in 1999 and personally delivered the donation during a midday event at Pasadena High School. “The Comfort Cub is a proven tool for emotional regulation and heart health during times of profound stress. We want every student and staff member impacted by these fires to feel seen, supported, and embraced.”

Each of the 26 schools in Pasadena Unified School District will receive bears from the donation, part of Johnson’s pledge to distribute 1,000 Comfort Cubs by January 2026 to Southern California communities affected by fires. 

The Comfort Cub calls itself the original weighted therapeutic teddy bear, and the medically recognized bears have been used across the United States in crisis response, including by the FBI to support victims’ families after tragedies.

The donation follows an earlier delivery of 500 Comfort Cubs to the Los Angeles Dream Center for fire victims, as Johnson’s organization continues expanding its reach to communities in crisis.