Women in Toys Designer & Inventor Finalist 2024

Hey hey -- I'm a finalist for the 2024 Women in Toys Awards in the designer/inventor small business category! 😊 Super-duper flattered to be nominated, and grateful from the bottom of my heart for this special honor. As the brains behind the Original Plush Organs, I can't tell you how much it means to be a nominee amongst so many talented humans!

If we have never met, hi! My name is Wendy, and that's my rectum. I started making plush organs back in 2007 and have been making the human body cute and huggable ever since. Our plush toys give tough topics -- from sickness to surgery -- a soft touch. I love what I do and bust my butt every single day to bring you organ plushies with love, style and brains. More about how I got started making toys right here.

Since I first started making plush organs, over a half-million plush organs have found their forever homes. I Heart Guts plushies have won a variety of awards and been featured in Entertainment Weekly, People, BuzzFeed and the Washington Post among others.

These plushies may seem silly, but they serve to comfort and educate during health scares and surgery in a way that is very personal. We love hearing stories of how much these plushie organs mean to you. If you've ever had your kid undergo surgery or struggle with chronic illness, these plushies have a special place in your heart.

Plush organs make supportive and educational mascots on your health journey -- they stay by your side every step of the way, all the way into the surgery suite! Your tales of strength keep us going and fill myself and my team with a sense of purpose. Thanks for keeping us inspired over the years!

If you're a Women in Toys member, Voting ends tmrw, Aug 2nd! 🗳️ Is this the most important election of 2024? NOPE. 😭 But I'm still happy & proud to be a Finalista amongst so many awesome humans 💪 working in the toy space! Thrilled for my body of work to be regognized. hashtagWonderWomenEverywhere hashtagWWA2024 @womenintoys