| Beads of Courage |
  I am very proud to be associated with the Beads of Courage® organization as both a contributing artist, and organizing founder of the BOC chapter at the Florida Children's Hospital in Orlando, Florida. Beads of Courage® is a resilience-based intervention designed to support and strengthen the protective resources in children coping with serious illness. Through the program children tell their story using colorful beads as meaningful symbols of courage that commemorate milestones they have achieved along their unique treatment path. Upon enrollment each child is given the Beads of Courage® bead color guide with a detachable membership card. Their Beads of Courage® journey begins when each child is first given a length of string and beads that spell out their first name. Then, colorful beads, each representing a different treatment milestone are given to the child by their professional health care provider to add to their Beads of Courage® collection throughout their treatment. Donated handmade beads are given to children as they pass treatment milestones that are distinguished by a one-of-a-kind bead. I've donated hundreds (perhaps even thousands) of beads over the past 3 years, but I'm most proud of the purple hearts and butterflies that I've made.
The purple heart bead is given to a child who has successfully completed his or her treatment and signifies their courageous battle. Below are just some of the hundreds of purple hearts I've donated. I love knowing that my beads are going to children who've fought hard to have a normal, happy and healthy life.
 The butterfly bead is given to the family of a child who passes away during his or her treatment. While these are the hardest beads emotionally for me to make, they are so important, and I have recently devoted countless hours towards making butterflies. Click on the butterfly bead to see some of my butterfly creations.
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