Our Story
The medical world is complex and overwhelming, especially for kids.
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At Hello Brave, we understand this. When one of our founders faced her 8-year-old son's cancer diagnosis, the panic of explaining the inexplicable set in. Desperately scouring Google and texting her MD sister for digestible information, she felt lost in managing her son's emotional needs without the resources or tools for difficult health conversations. From this experience, Hello Brave was born.
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Hello Brave is dedicated to providing kids and parents with the information, resources, and tools they need to confidently navigate pediatric medical challenges and advocate for their needs.
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Our mission is to make complex medical diagnoses and procedures more approachable for kids through engaging and educational children's books. Our books serve as friendly guides for kids facing pivotal medical experiences. Each book tells the story of a Brave Kid navigating a diagnosis, treatment, or medical procedure, with a wise and whimsical Brave Buddy by their side to answer questions and explain what's going on with each experience.
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These books will offer more than just information—they will provide comfort and empowerment to kids and their families. We believe that when kids are informed, they not only gain knowledge about their health but also become stronger, facing challenges with less fear and more resilience. Each book includes practical tips for both kids and their families, making the journey less stressful and a little more Brave.
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Hello Brave’s first two books, A Brave Kid’s Guide to Lymphoma and A Brave Kid’s Guide to Leukemia, are now available in print.
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Our vision extends far beyond lymphoma and leukemia. We aim to create a comprehensive library of diagnosis-specific books, covering a spectrum of pediatric medical issues, from chronic and life threatening illnesses like cystic fibrosis, congenital heart disease, or diabetes, to more common conditions like food allergies or asthma. We will also delve into treatments and essential medical procedures. Picture a children’s book collection that empowers families to understand and discuss difficult topics like chemotherapy, blood draws, CT/PET scans, surgery, central lines, staying over night in the hospital, and more.
say "hello!" to the team
REINA BEACH
When Reina's 8-year-old son was diagnosed with Burkitt lymphoma, she went from small business owner to full-time caregiver, providing comfort and support as her son endured many challenges, both medically and emotionally.
Now, with her son in remission and rediscovering the joys of childhood, Reina has emerged as a fervent advocate for pediatric cancer patients and their families. Hello Brave stands as the tangible embodiment of her personal journey and profound insight into the unique needs of children navigating medical challenges.
NINA GONZALEZ
MD, MPH
Our author, Nina, is a preventive medicine and public health physician with a passion for health literacy and patient education. Throughout her career, Nina has dedicated herself to enhancing patient and consumer education through health technology. She currently works at Google, where she is driven to improve the health of populations at scale.
When Nina's nephew faced his Burkitt lymphoma diagnosis, she found herself bridging a gap for her family. In moments of uncertainty, she answered questions and explained the medical situation when clarity from doctors and specialists was lacking. This experience highlighted the often inadequate patient and family education surrounding complex diagnoses. Alongside her co-founders, Nina initiated Hello Brave as a solution, using children's books to make medical information more accessible and engaging, helping kids and families navigate challenging medical journeys.
ANNA MISCHKE
Our illustrator, Anna, uses globe-trotting, ongoing introspection, life’s experiences, and heart for storytelling to create scenes and images that make people feel. At her happiest, she’s creating whimsical and weird things that advocate for mental health awareness, support, and exploration. Anna finds inspiration from tiny things in nature, daydreams and nightmares, and constant exploration of the natural world. Through Hello Brave, she hopes to bring light and joy to children going through scary or stressful medical experiences.
BROOKE HEALY
M. ED
Brooke is a dedicated educator holding a Master of Education and brings a wealth of expertise from her years in the classroom. Crafting engaging curriculum throughout her career, Brooke believes education should be enjoyable and accessible, catering to diverse student needs. As a mom to an energetic baby boy and aunt to many, she recognizes the importance of creating an adventurous learning environment.
Brooke's journey shifted profoundly when her son faced a health crisis, deepening her commitment to leverage education's transformative power in making hospital experiences easier for children and families. For Brooke, Hello Brave is more than a business; it's a heartfelt dedication to using education to bring comfort and understanding to children and families facing medical challenges.