For Clinicians and Healthcare Professionals

Comfort for Patients Facing Serious Illness

Machiko no Ishi – Machiko’s Legacy is a small nonprofit organization that provides lifelike plush Maltese companions to patients receiving hospice or life-limiting care.

These plush companions are offered at no cost to patients.

Many patients find comfort in holding a soft companion during periods of illness, isolation, or anxiety. Our goal is simply to offer a small measure of warmth and emotional support during a difficult time.

Who Can Request a Plush Companion

Requests for plush companions must originate from an immediate family member of the patient*, a healthcare professional or an organization directly involved in providing care to patients in hospice or with a clearly life-limiting illness:

• Physicians

• Nurse Practitioners

• Physician Assistants

• Registered Nurses

• Licensed Vocational Nurses

• Certified Nursing Assistants

• Home Health Aides

• Licensed hospice or palliative care organizations

• Social Workers

• Chaplains

Immediate family members wishing to order a plush companion for a patient may request a plush companion themselves or direct a request through one of the healthcare professionals shown above.

*Immediate family member means a spouse, domestic partner, parent, grandparent, adult child, grandchild, sibling, parent-in-law, child-in-law, or other close relative directly involved in the patient’s care and support.

Who We Serve

We provide plush companions to patients who are:

• Receiving hospice care

• Receiving palliative care for clearly defined life-limiting condition

• Experiencing significant emotional distress related to serious illness

While the program was created in memory of our founder’s Japanese wife and prioritizes Japanese and Asian patients, any hospice or seriously ill patient may be referred.

About the Companion

Each patient receives a soft plush Maltese companion, selected for its gentle appearance and comforting design.

The plush companion:

• is new and is sealed in a plastic bag within an individual box 

• comes with a handwritten comfort message card and care instructions

• includes a metal comb to fluff the plush (fur may be compressed during shipping)

• arrives directly by mail to the patient or caregiver

• requires no return or follow-up- is intended to remain with the patient permanently

There is no cost or obligation for the hospice or other facility, healthcare provider, or family.

How to Request a Companion

Healthcare professionals, caregivers, nonprofit healthcare organizations and immediate family members may request a companion using our short request form. 

Request Form: https://www.machikonoishi.org/request-form

By submitting a request, the healthcare professional or immediate family member confirms that the request is made in good faith for a patient receiving hospice or palliative care for a clearly defined life-limiting condition.

Alternatives:

• Email: machikonoishi@gmail.com

• Phone: 808-421-8922

Email or phone requests will be asked for the same information as the online form.

• Requests typically ship within 48 hours

• Requests are acknowledged by email

• Shipping confirmation is provided when available

• Companions are shipped directly for patient presentation. Please see the Presenting the Plush section on the How It Works page for gentle suggestions about presentation.

Our Mission

Machiko no Ishi – Machiko’s Legacy was created in honor of Machiko Chiba, whose personal hospice experience and enduring love of animals inspired this effort to bring comfort to patients at the end of life.

Because we are a small volunteer-run nonprofit, we focus specifically on hospice and serious illness care where a simple companion can have the greatest emotional impact.

Privacy Assurance

No patient data is collected or stored.

When completing the Request Form, please be certain that no patient names or data is entered. Nicknames are OK. 

Questions?

Email us at: machikonoishi@gmail.com

For urgent issues: Healthcare providers may contact us at:

tjmclaughlin@machikonoishi.org    808-421-8922

Small Gesture. Real Comfort.