The newly dedicated room in memory of Ann Parsons inside ECU Health’s Tender Evaluation, Diagnosis and Intervention for a Better Abuse Response (TEDI BEAR) Children’s Advocacy Center is filled with toys, games, puzzles, books and, of course, teddy bears, all designed to create a safe environment for children in crisis. For those at the clinic, dedicating the room to Parsons’ memory symbolizes her legacy as a nurse practitioner who committed decades of her life to supporting thousands of pediatric patients.
Parsons spent 17 years as the clinic’s medical provider. TEDI BEAR is a partnership between the Department of Pediatrics at the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University and James and Connie Maynard Children’s Hospital at ECU Health Medical Center that serves children from birth through 18 who may be victims of abuse. TEDI BEAR and the Mt. Olive Children’s Advocacy Center in Duplin County are valuable resources for families in eastern North Carolina, an underserved region with few behavioral health options for children and adolescents. TEDI BEAR provides forensic interviews, medical evaluations, child advocacy and specialized therapy designed to help children heal from trauma.
Parsons was described as a committed advocate for the pediatric patients she saw at TEDI BEAR, always focused on doing what was best for victims in their healing process.
“She was so thorough,” said Wendy Shouse, a mental health manager at ECU Health who worked with Parsons for over 15 years. “I would not call her soft spoken, but she had a very calm, collected presence that put people at ease. I never really saw her feathers ruffled. That presence left an impression on the families, professionals and patients she worked with. If patients had questions about their long-term health after their experience, I knew they could count on Ann to answer them.
“Even at times when our team got frustrated over particular cases or systems, Ann would always say ‘We just have to do what we can to help the child.’ That was our focus.”
In 2025, Parsons died in the weeks following an unexpected medical event. It shocked her coworkers and supervisor, Dr. Matthew Ledoux, pediatrician in chief at ECU Health. He remembered Parsons as “a great colleague and friend.”
Upon reviewing Parsons’ tenure with the clinic, Ledoux, Shouse and fellow team members were stunned to discover she had examined or seen over 5,000 patients, a revelation that quantified the staggering impact she had across the region.
“It was so impressive,” Ledoux said. “Ann dedicated so much of her life to those many abused and neglected children. We felt there was a need to honor her dedication to those children.”
Team members considered dedicating an examination room in Parsons’ memory. Conversations on that topic turned to a different room that people who knew Parsons felt better reflected her impact on patients. It was the room where, after forensic exams and interviews on traumatic topics, kids could find a friend in the form of a stuffed animal, many of which are teddy bears from which the clinic draws its name. The comforting companions are donated by community supporters and Shouse said they serve as a reminder that patients will continue to receive support from TEDI BEAR team members.
“It’s a small something that helps them transition from their medical exam back to the world outside,” Shouse said. “You don’t want to open them up, talk about their abuse experience and then just kick them out the door. This room is a reset.”
In 2025, the 54 children’s advocacy centers across North Carolina served 11,844 children. TEDI BEAR and ECU Health’s Children’s Advocacy Center in Mount Olive serve approximately 1,000 children per year. The centers served about 930 children in 2025.
Research shows that one in 10 children are sexually abused by the age of 18 years old. Approximately 86% of that abuse goes unreported, and younger children aged one through six are likely to have more difficulties disclosing abuse compared to older children. A small amount of those disclosures, about 16%, are made directly to authorities, with most disclosures made to peers.
Parsons worked well with the various people who made their way through TEDI BEAR, be they parents, law enforcement officers or social workers. In their time together, Parsons provided medical examinations and Shouse administered behavioral health assessments. Their bond, forged by their proximity and strengthened through shared experience, was one based in mutual respect.
“What I appreciated most about Ann was that I could ask her any question,” Shouse said. “Nothing was ever ridiculous or stupid. I am not a medical provider — I am a therapist. We do not necessarily use the same medical terms. She never made me feel like I was inferior or bad at my job when I had to clarify things. I was always comfortable.”
Shouse said that many patients keep the stuffed bear from their first visit, even after aging out of pediatric therapy when they turn 18. That is something she hopes reflects how the clinic, and Parsons, helped patients.
“I think she would appreciate the room and how it gives these kids some measure of comfort. It is the last step in making sure they are alright,” Shouse said. “That’s what Ann was all about.”
For more information about how you can support TEDI BEAR, please contact the ECU Health Foundation at 252-847-5626 or click here and complete the form.