Strong and Brave Is Here: A Book Created to Help Children Facing Surgery

I’m so excited to officially share the release of the Strong and Brave children’s book series.

These books were created to help children feel more prepared, supported and less scared when facing surgery. Through storytelling from a child’s perspective, each book walks families through the surgery experience in a way that is comforting, understandable, and encouraging.

This project is deeply personal to me. I was born with a highly vascular hemangioma on my face and have undergone 28 surgeries throughout my life, many of them as a child. I know firsthand how overwhelming hospitals, procedures, and recovery can feel through a child’s eyes.

Later, I experienced surgery from a different perspective — as a parent. Watching both of my children go through surgery was incredibly difficult, and I realized I would rather face it myself than watch them walk through it.

That is where the idea for Strong and Brave began.

My hope is that these books help families have important conversations, ease fear of the unknown, and remind children that they are never alone. It is okay to feel nervous, and it is possible to be brave one step at a time.

The series currently includes:

• Strong and Brave: Brooklyn Has Surgery

• Strong and Brave: Blake Has Surgery

These stories are lovingly dedicated to my children, Blake and Brooklyn, who continue to inspire me every day.

Thank you to everyone who encouraged me throughout this journey and supported this dream from idea to reality.

You can find the books now on Amazon and learn more throughout this website.