You’ll never forget your favourite soft toy.

For Elizabeth Briggs, 77, that toy was a teddy bear named George.

George held a special significance for Elizabeth because when she underwent pioneering childhood heart surgery in 1947, it was George who gave her comfort.

Elizabeth was just five years old when she had an operation to repair a duct in her heart.

Her grandmother bought her a new teddy bear at a church sale, who she named George and kept with her for her six-week stay at Great Ormond Street Hospital, London.

Elizabeth went on to make a full recovery and live a healthy life, but George was packed away, lost after she returned to her family home in Enfield, north London.

But 72 years later, the bear was found again when Elizabeth’s brother, Trevor, was doing a clearance of the house.

George was returned to Elizabeth at the Aden Court care home in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, where the 77-year-old is currently recovering from a stroke.

Elizabeth said: ‘The operation was quite scary when I was five years old and George helped me through it all.

‘He had every bandage, bedpan and injection that I also had when in hospital. The nurses and doctors got him a small bedpan too.

‘I am so happy to have him back and now he can help me recover again like he did all those years ago.’

Aden Court manager Lisa Boyd said: ‘Elizabeth was overjoyed to be reunited with her bear, George.

‘Elizabeth hasn’t been with us very long but she’s already so settled and George was the icing on the cake for her.

‘He has pride of place in her room and we’re sure he will provide comfort as she continues her recovery from her stroke.’

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