Meet Gabriella and her very special flat bear, Honey. Both now 16 years old, they’ve been together since the day Gabriella was born, when her mum and dad gave her Honey as a gift.
We first heard from Gabriella’s mum, Martha, back in 2014, when she sent us the sweetest message about her little girl starting school. Like many little ones, Gabriella was finding those first school days a little difficult. But the hardest part wasn’t going to school. It was having to leave her eight flat bears at home.
Gabriella found a way to keep a little bit of comfort close. Every morning, she’d tuck one of her little flat bears into her school bag and as soon as the bell rang, she’d take him out for a cuddle.
Over the years, Gabriella has had eight flat bears in different colours. Three have gone on little adventures of their own and sadly never made it home, including a black bear lost in New York. But Honey, her oldest and most treasured bear, has stayed by her side.
From Australia to the British Virgin Islands and now Colombia, Honey has travelled the world with Gabriella, sharing 16 years of memories, comfort and countless cuddles.
Earlier this year, as we were collecting stories for our 25th birthday celebration, we reconnected with Martha and were delighted to hear that Gabriella still has her well-loved flat bear, Honey.
Honey looks a little different from the fluffy little bear he once was. Over the years, he’s taken on a shape all his own. And that’s what we love most about seeing our little bears grow up with their people. No two well-loved FLATOUTbears ever look quite the same, because each one has its own special story to tell.