Remembering Raggedy Ann - What Vaccines can do.

As a child one of my most favorite dolls in the world was Raggedy Ann. My older sister and I both had handmade Raggedy Ann dolls that were made by a "little old lady" who crafted Raggedy Ann dolls and sold them at local art shows and fairs. She would even embroider your name on Raggedy's heart so it was personalized. My sister had a whole collection of Raggedy Ann and Raggedy Andy dolls including dolls that were nearly lifesize - I remember how much we played with them, they were so much more than simple ragdolls. We even had books that were all about adventures of the pair and we'd reenact the stories. We loved Raggedy Ann.

I just learned this interesting 'tidbit' about Raggedy Ann that makes this doll hold even more meaning to me. Raggedy Ann's creator Johny Gruelle made this doll for his daughter Marcella in the early 1900s. Marcella later died at the age of 13 after she was vaccinated without consent at her school for Smallpox. The Raggedy Ann doll later became a symbol for the anti-vaccination movement. I am not anti-vaccination, though I do stand firmly for vaccination choice.

Did you have a Raggedy Ann doll as a child? Does your daughter even know who Raggedy Ann is?

I just sent my mother an email asking if she still had my Raggedy Ann doll, I surely hope she did save it, so I can pass it on to my daughter. Who, I would like to hope, will love the doll as I did - or at least for a few moments, she could humor me.

I miss my dolly.