Lauren Huffmaster’s Journey: Creating a Children’s Book for Families Affected by Metastatic Breast Cancer
In 2015, Lauren Huffmaster was diagnosed with late-stage metastatic breast cancer (mBC) and quickly realized there was limited information to help explain her condition to her young children. “At the time, my children were two, four, and six,” Lauren recalls. “Cancer didn’t just affect me; it impacted everyone around me. I struggled with how to raise them while dealing with this disease and how to talk to them about it.”
Although Lauren found several books on cancer, she struggled to find resources that specifically supported patients and their families. To address this gap, she founded the Adventure Therapy Foundation in 2018, a nonprofit dedicated to helping families cope with the emotional toll cancer takes.
This personal drive led Lauren to contribute to the creation of The Adventure Jar: A Story of Magic for Families Living with Metastatic Breast Cancer, a children's book released in August. Created in partnership with Gilead, patient advisors, and a psychiatrist, the book was inspired by Lauren's own journey and the weekly adventures she shared with her family.
“This book is crucial for highlighting how cancer affects children, how families can support each other, and how they can continue living fully despite the challenges of the disease,” Lauren explains.
Lauren and the other patient advisors were actively involved in shaping the book to reflect their own experiences. It was especially important to her that the mother in the story was portrayed not just as a patient, but as a person with a life beyond the illness. “The Adventure Jar helps shift the narrative, showing women with cancer as people first, and patients second. They’re still mothers, partners, and individuals leading their lives,” she shares.
Lauren takes solace in knowing that the book not only brings joy to her own family, but also to countless others in similar situations. You can get a free copy of the book here and watch more of Lauren’s story in the video above.
Gilead Sciences, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, is dedicated to discovering and developing innovative treatments for life-threatening conditions. Headquartered in Foster City, California, Gilead operates in over 35 countries worldwide.
Although Lauren found several books on cancer, she struggled to find resources that specifically supported patients and their families. To address this gap, she founded the Adventure Therapy Foundation in 2018, a nonprofit dedicated to helping families cope with the emotional toll cancer takes.
This personal drive led Lauren to contribute to the creation of The Adventure Jar: A Story of Magic for Families Living with Metastatic Breast Cancer, a children's book released in August. Created in partnership with Gilead, patient advisors, and a psychiatrist, the book was inspired by Lauren's own journey and the weekly adventures she shared with her family.
“This book is crucial for highlighting how cancer affects children, how families can support each other, and how they can continue living fully despite the challenges of the disease,” Lauren explains.
Lauren and the other patient advisors were actively involved in shaping the book to reflect their own experiences. It was especially important to her that the mother in the story was portrayed not just as a patient, but as a person with a life beyond the illness. “The Adventure Jar helps shift the narrative, showing women with cancer as people first, and patients second. They’re still mothers, partners, and individuals leading their lives,” she shares.
Lauren takes solace in knowing that the book not only brings joy to her own family, but also to countless others in similar situations. You can get a free copy of the book here and watch more of Lauren’s story in the video above.
Gilead Sciences, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, is dedicated to discovering and developing innovative treatments for life-threatening conditions. Headquartered in Foster City, California, Gilead operates in over 35 countries worldwide.
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