How It Works
A simple process to provide a quiet, comforting presence
THE PROCESS
Individual Attention
Every request for a plush Maltese companion is handled by our volunteers with care, respect and compassion from start to finish. We are sensitive to privacy concerns and HIPAA requirements and do not require personal information about any patient, not even their name.
What Makes Our Process Special
Every plush companion arrives boxed with a handwritten message of hope from one of our volunteers, along with a blue crafted paper gift bag and gift card. There's also a metal comb to fluff the companion's hair, ensuring it arrives in perfect condition.
THE GIFT
The Plush Maltese Companion
What’s Included
The plush Maltese companion is about 14 inches tall and exudes charm with high quality, soft and delicate imitation fur imported from Japan. A delightfully plush body is finished with meticulously airbrushed details that result in a remarkably lifelike appearance.
To ensure its cleanliness, the plush Maltese companion arrives in a sealed plastic bag and can be gently hand-washed or simply wiped with a damp cloth. Note that during transportation, the fur may flatten slightly due to compression; use a hair dryer to blow the hair for 2-3 minutes to restore its fluffy and velvety softness.
🌸 14" Lifelike plush Maltese companion
🌸 Blue crafted paper gift bag
🌸 Handwritten gift card with message of hope
🌸 Metal comb for fluffing
🌸 Care instructions
Eligibility
Who Can Order and What Information Is Required?
Requests for a plush Maltese companion may be made on behalf of a hospice/palliative care patient by any of the healthcare professionals shown below. Immediate family members may also request a plush companion for their loved one in hospice care or with a clearly life-limiting illness.
Physician (MD / DO)
You will be asked to provide:
Work or professional email address, organization name, and state
Hospice or Home-Care Organization
(Nonprofit)
You will be asked to provide:
Organization name, professional email address
Hospice Nurse (RN / LVN / LPN)
You will be asked to provide:
Work or professional email address, organization name, and state
Licensed Caregivers, Clinical Chaplains, Social Workers, Doulas
You will be asked to provide:
Professional email address, organization name, and state
Immediate Family Members
(Spouse, Partner, Adult Child, etc.)
You will be asked to provide:
Your contact information and shipping address
How to Order
THE STEPS
1
Submit your request through our interactive website form (preferred) or contact us by telephone or email.
Choose Your Method
2
Share the necessary details including shipping address and hospice/palliative care service provider identification.
Provide Information
3
Useful information
Upon receipt of your request, we'll provide an estimate of when the plush Maltese companion will be shipped.
Receive Confirmation
Contact Options:
Phone: 808-294-3370
Email: machikonoishi@gmail.com
Address: 11109 Muirfield Drive, Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730
Important notes:
🌸 Please use the requestor’s name, an organization name, service provider name or a nickname when providing “ship to” information. For privacy reasons, do NOT use patient’s name when requesting a plush Maltese companion.
🌸”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.
🌸 Processing times are typically 4-7 days but may vary depending on current volumes and volunteer availability. Due to limited resources, we fulfill a small number of requests monthly. Priority is given to hospice patients of Japanese/Asian ancestry, but all are welcome. Non-priority requests may be placed on a waitlist. If an urgent or emergency situation requires a faster shipping time, please call us to arrange.
🌸 By clicking the confirmation box on the Request Form, each person requesting a plush Maltese companion attests that they are a member of the patient’s immediate family, a qualified professional or authorized representative of an organization providing hospice patients or palliative care patients with clearly defined life-limiting illness, and confirms that their request is made in good faith solely for patient comfort, and that the information provided is accurate.
🌸 We may verify licensure only if needed. Copies of licenses are not required.
WHAT TO EXPECT
The Journey of Your Request
From the moment you submit your request to final delivery, here's what happens behind the scenes.
1
Request Received
Day 1
2
Verification & Prep
Days 1-2
3
Personalized Packaging
Days 3-4
4
Shipped with Love
Days 4-7
A GENTLE NOTE FOR CARE TEAMS
Presenting the Plush with Care
When offering a plush companion, we encourage a simple and unhurried approach.
Some patients find comfort holding it close, while others may prefer simply having it nearby—or may choose not to engage at all. Each response is natural and should be respected. There is no need to assign meaning or a name unless the patient expresses interest.
Many patients prefer to relate to the plush in their own way, or to give it a name that feels personal to them. We believe comfort is most meaningful when it is offered without expectation and received in a way that feels right for each individual.
ケアに携わる皆さまへ
ぬいぐるみをお渡しする際は、できるだけ静かでやさしいかたちをおすすめしています。
抱いて安心される方もいれば、そばに置いておくだけで十分な方、また特に関心を示されない方もいらっしゃいます。どの反応も自然なものです。
特別な意味づけや名前をつける必要はありません。 ご本人が望まれた場合にのみ、それぞれに合ったかたちで受け取っていただければと思います。
私たちは、期待や押しつけのないかたちで差し出され、その方らしい方法で受け取られるとき、やさしさはもっとも深く伝わると考えています。
ぬいぐるみをお渡しする際のささやかなお願い
Frequently Asked Questions
COMMON QUESTIONS
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Our plush Maltese companions are provided free of charge as a gift of comfort. If you are able, a suggested donation of $45 (or any amount) helps cover the cost of the plush companion, shipping, and packaging, allowing us to continue this work and provide more comfort to patients in need. Donations are gratefully accepted but never required.
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Your donation is fully tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law, as Machiko no Ishi is a qualified 501(c)(3) organization (FEIN 41-3094039). Consult your tax advisor for details.
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Currently, our limited resources mean that we must initially focus on California patients, but we hope to expand our service soon. Your donation of whatever amount will help make that dream a reality.
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Typical processing time is 1-2 weeks from request to delivery, depending on current volume and volunteer availability. We'll provide a specific estimate when we confirm your request. Occasionally circumstances beyond our control may require that a request is put on a short stand-by list. If that occurs, we will advise you of the situation and the expected new shipping date.
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Yes. Requests for plush Maltese companions can come from members of the patient’s immediate family.
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.
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We chose to provide plush Maltese companions because they honor the memory of Machiko Chiba who is the inspiration for this foundation. At this time we have no plans to include other plush animal options or other products but we will continually evaluate our patients’ desires and adapt as they evolve.
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You can best support our mission by making a single donation or recurring donation of any amount. Positive mentions of Machiko’s Legacy on social media platforms are also welcomed because they spread our message of gentle warmth at the end of life. We also hope to establish corporate and business partnerships and sponsorships that can expand our services.
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The large characters say “Machiko no Ishi” which is our foundation’s name and means “Machiko’s Legacy”. Underneath, the smaller text says “Jinsei no saigo ni, yasashii nukumori o” which is an expression that suggests “a gentle warmth at the end of life”.
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Yes. The little dog’s name is Aiko. We call her “Aiko-chan.” In Japanese that means “child of love.”
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We partner with licensed hospice and palliative care programs, which retain full responsibility for all clinical care. Our role is limited to providing comfort items that care teams may choose to offer to patients when appropriate.
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Machiko no Ishi does not provide clinical services, submit insurance claims, or engage in care delivery. Our program is intentionally simple and transparent: we provide donated comfort items, without financial or clinical involvement in patient care.
JOIN OUR MISSION
Ready to Request a Companion?
If you are an eligible family member or healthcare provider, we invite you to act now and provide warmth and comfort through the gift of a plush companion. It only takes a minute!