‘Small act of kindness’: Mattel sends thousands of Barbies to Cook Children’s in memory of 7-year-old Athena Strand

Fort Worth, Texas. Thousands of toys and one message arrived at Cook Children’s Hospital in Fort Worth on Thursday morning, all in memory of one little girl.

Athena Strand, a 7-year-old girl killed in Wise County in late November, was once treated at Cook Children’s Hospital. Her mother, Maitlin Gandhi, agreed to tell the story again. She wanted, especially on Thursday.

“I think everyone is very kind and accommodating,” she said during a visit to the hospital.

“And I just think it’s really good,” Gandhi said of the toys delivered to the hospital in her daughter’s name.

Last September, Athena was treated for three days at the Cook Children’s Hospital. And during her stay there, the nurses gave her a pink cotton candy teddy bear. Athena’s mom said he quickly became the favorite of the pink-obsessed little girl.

“This has been her favorite dish for the past few months,” Gandhi said. “And she slept with him every night.

It was the bear that Athena loved so much, and they buried him with her.

“Sometimes a small act of kindness is enough to make someone feel much better,” Gandhi said. “And I think that’s what the bear did for Athena.”

So when Mattel, which has distribution centers in Fort Worth, learned that the FedEx driver who confessed to killing Athena was supposed to deliver a Barbie to her on the day she died, the company contacted Gandhi to ask if she could donate the toys to Its name. Athena’s mom immediately chose Cook Children’s.

“I just want to do as much good for Athena as possible. Because Athena was just… good,” she said.

Toys also carry a message. Barbies that represent multiple professions and multiple nationalities are labeled with the phrase “you can be anyone”.

“I raised my children in the belief that they can become whatever they want if they work hard,” Gandhi said. “I hope all little kids know that they can grow up to be whatever they want to be.”

Gifts in memory of a little angel who did not have such a chance.

On Thursday, Cook Children’s allowed hospital patients to visit the lobby and atrium to pick up a toy of their choice.