Paige Skarratts family relieved after lost teddy bear containing ashes returned

The family of Paige Skarratts, who died of cancer last year, have expressed their relief after a member of the public found a lost teddy bear which holds the little girl’s ashes.

THE Skarratts family were heartbroken when their daughter Paige died and for a frantic 24 hours they thought they’d lost her all over again.

The family had Paige’s ashes put in a tin inside the teddy bear given to them as a gift from the funeral director. Yesterday the teddy went missing and a desperate search began.

The lost teddy bear which holds Paige’s ashes. Picture: Supplied.

After being at Helensvale Westfield father Jake Skarratts said they realised the beloved bear was lost and the family was distraught.

However the teddy was found by a member of the public in the shopping centre’s

car park this afternoon, who contacted the Skarratts after seeing posts online.

The good samaritan wanted to remain anonymous and returned the bear not for the spotlight but to return something loved to the family.

The bear had been described as wearing a black wonder woman shirt in honour of Paige, who was buried in a wonder woman casket.

Mr Skarratts said it had been very important to the family to get it back.

“It’s of real sentimental value to us,” he said.

Mr Skarratt said the frantic search left them emotionally drained but they were relieved to have not lost their daughter for a second time.

“We were so relieved — we went to straight away to pick her up,” he said.

“We are tired and am exhausted emotionally and physically.”

Paige was diagnosed with brain cancer in 2017.

After being told she would not survive for more than a week, her parents decided to make her dream come true — of becoming a flower girl at their wedding.

In a story that touched the hearts of the nation, within 24 hours they had made Paige’s dream come true by marrying at Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital.

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Paige Skarratts at mum Tania and dad Jacob's wedding at Lady Cliento Children's Hospital in Brisbane.

Five weeks later, Paige was still fighting and was well enough to return to her Pimpama home. But after defying the odds for more than a year, she passed away last November.

Mr Skarratts said the bear goes everywhere with the family to keep Paige close.

“She comes everywhere, she comes shopping in the pram with my son or our other daughter carries her,” he said.

The family is looking at putting a microchip in the bear in case it ever gets lost again.

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