For a young child, losing their favorite teddy bear can feel as devastating as losing a close family member or pet. Kids form strong emotional bonds with their stuffed animals, believing they possess a unique life force.
Replacing a beloved toy is almost impossible, even if the replacement is a replica. Psychologist Bruce Hood explained to The Guardian, “Even if a machine could reproduce an object down to the atomic level, people would still prefer the original. It holds a unique essence. We tend to attribute feelings to these objects, treating them like they are alive, even though children understand they aren’t.”
This deep attachment was felt by 5-year-old Ezekiel Burnett when he lost his teddy bear, known as “Original Teddy,” at Milwaukee Airport last November. During their flight, Ezekiel tossed the bear into the air in the concourse and ended up stuck in the rafters.
The family could not retrieve the bear in time and had to leave it behind.
David Burnett, Ezekiel's father, shared how significant the bear was: “He’s had this bear since birth, and it’s been with him every night. The bear holds immense sentimental value for him.” The loss was so distressing that Ezekiel cried throughout the entire flight home.
Original Teddy was discovered in January and handed over to the airport’s information desk. The airport began tweeting in search of the bear’s family, and the story quickly went viral, amassing over 4 million views.
Recently, while watching “Survivor” on TV, David’s wife was ecstatic to see a Facebook post about the bear shared by a friend. “She was so overwhelmed with joy that she almost jumped out of her chair,” David recalled.
The family contacted the airport, and the airport announced the news on Twitter.
The bear, which features a heart on its chest and stitches, is significant to many because it’s often given to children born with congenital heart defects. Although Ezekiel was born with a healthy heart, the bear was a gift from a family friend.
The airport and Southwest Airlines generously arranged for the Burnett family to fly from Texas to Milwaukee for a special reunion ceremony.
“We’re honored to be part of such a special moment,” said Airport Director Brian Dranzik. “Events like these, big or small, are why we support our local airport.”
David Burnett mentioned that Ezekiel was thrilled to have his bear back and may not fully grasp the importance of the event but has talked about it every day since. At the ceremony, Ezekiel and Original Teddy were finally reunited; this time, their bond is hoped toll last forever.