And finally (for now)

Please visit our links for full coverage of all the press we have been getting.  Also, visit our friends without whom this book would not be possible.  Please keep on eye on this blog and on our Facebook Page to see how you can own a copy of "How My Sun Got Its Smile..."

Photos from the Young Hero

 Deana getting interviewed...

 Here she is!  Our very own Young Hero!

Deana and her brother Nasir in the talent show for St. Christopher's Hospital

Our Young Hero

THE NATIONAL LIBERTY MUSEUM AWARD

Philadelphia has a fabulous little museum called the National Liberty Museum.  This gem is found in the heart of the historical district and is a museum that promotes anti-bullying and heroism.  Every spring they ask for the community to nominate children who would be considered a “Young Hero.”  Judy nominated Deana for this honor.  Please read the letter below that she wrote about this beautiful child:

A True Young Hero

It would not be possible to send a video of Deana Vega doing her community service, because her community service is at St. Christopher’s Children’s Hospital, on the Oncology Floor.  I know that videos would not be allowed and I’m sure you can understand that.  But, let me create my own video of this incredible young lady.

Picture if you can, a nine-year-old little girl, who was diagnosed with leukemia and spent an entire year in and out of the hospital, missing all of 4^th grade. Picture if you can, a little girl who was as sick as a child could possibly be.  Picture if you can a little girl with beautiful curls, going completely bald.  Now, picture that same child, as an eleven year old, in good health.  The picture you now have is Deana Vega and she is an extraordinary young lady.  She talks publically about her experience with cancer and gives back to St. Christopher’s 100%.

How does she give back?  I asked her that and this was her answer, “I visit the sick kids in the cancer section.  I play games with them, walk around with them, talk to them and try to have them talk about what they are feeling.  I play with the babies and even feed them.  While I was sick I helped to take care of a five-month-old baby who died.  She had nobody come to visit her.  I held her and fed her.  I walk with the kids outside if the weather is nice.  At Christmas I went and got the kids some toys.  On Valentine’s Day I got them teddy bears.  This past Monday was Memorial Day and I went up to the cancer floor and watched TV and hung out with the kids.  I’ll distract them while they’re getting needles and cheer them on while they are getting chemo.  The kids will ask if it was hard for me and I always tell them the truth.  I encourage them to walk around and get out of bed, no matter how bad they feel.  I tell them to think positive thoughts and always try to smile.  I even tell them that Bald People Rock!  I’m also going to be performing in the annual talent show for the sick kids this November.” 

I truly feel honored and privileged to say that I know Deana Vega.  I met Deana because I ran a “Read-a-Thon” at our school for the Susan B. Komen’s Mother’s Day Race.  Deana got on stage in front of hundreds of children and told her story.  She was so brave and strong.  This young lady is truly on a mission to help as many children as she can who are suffering with cancer.  She is a true friend to all children and a wonderful influence on others.  Helping the children at the hospital is not enough, as she dreams of writing a book about her battle with cancer, which will help many more who experienced the same struggle as she.  Without hesitation, I told her I will do everything I possibly can to make her next dream come true.

In closing, I hope that you consider Deana Vega to be a “Young Hero.”  She has endured so much in her young life, yet is one of the most upbeat positive students I have ever met.  Thankfully, she is in remission now and only wants to continue helping other kids with cancer.  To meet Deana is to fall in love with her!

And guess what – she won!  But, she didn’t just win the honor of being a “Young Hero,” she won the “President’s Award.”  Deana received a $1,000 check, a laptop computer and other gifts.  She and all of the Young Heroes were recognized at a luncheon at the museum on August 5^th.  Enjoy the photos from that day. By the way, the National Liberty Museum already said they will sell the book in their gift shop.  Our first customer!  Thank you to all the people at the museum who teach others the right values to get through life!  Please also, have a look at our new links list and visit some of our friends!

Our Angels!

Jonathan Bryan Fisher Foundation

Meloni and Judy truly believe that they have an angel following them.  At the time that all of this wonderful press coverage was happening, Judy was contacted by Sandi and Michael Fisher.  The Fishers are Judy’s close friends and had been following the book’s journey from conception.

In 2003, their son died and they established a special fund in his memory.   Jon was the type of kid who was always doing kind things for others, without wanting any recognition.  The Fishers believe that Jon would have loved this book and they knew that many people will be helped by reading Deana’s story.  They decided to help Meloni and Judy pay for the publishing of the book.  Sandi and Michael presented them with a generous donation.  The Fishers’ philosophy is to “Pay it Forward.”   They use this fund to help others who do good things for people.  Because of their generosity, the teachers have paid for the publishing and will have a little extra for the marketing of the book.  Thank you to our angels – The Fishers!

Wonderful Words of Encouragement

Dr. Arlene Ackerman, Superintendent of The School District of Philadelphia, learned about what we were doing from all the news coverage.  Dr. Ackerman sent out a beautiful letter about us to the entire staff!  Thank you, Dr. Ackerman!  Here is the letter:

August 26, 2010

Reading and art teachers at The School District of Philadelphia’s
Muñoz-Marin School help young cancer survivor “tell her story”

Two teachers at The School District of Philadelphia’s Muñoz-Marin School exemplify the countless District teachers who not only are education professionals, but who also help students navigate the roadblocks in their lives.

Eleven-year-old Muñoz-Marin student Deana Vega is a cancer survivor, having valiantly battled leukemia since she was 9. She told Reading Recovery Teacher Judith Willner that she wanted to write a book to help other children with cancer.

With her teacher’s help, Deana crafted a story entitled, “How the Sun Got Its Smile.” The story follows Deana through her ups and downs; the sun is sad when Deana is sick and it smiles brilliantly when she is feeling better.

Next, Art Teacher Meloni Kinckner contributed illustrations to make the sentiments of Deana’s story come alive.

Now it is anticipated that this young author’s story could be published by the end of this year.

We look forward to reading Deana’s tale. We thank her for sharing it with us, and we thank her teachers for guiding their student through the creative process so that she may make the lives of other children brighter.

Respectfully,

Arlene C. Ackerman, Ed.D.
Superintendent
The School District of Philadelphia

Our Press!

PRESS COVERAGE

In the middle of the summer Eileen Weinberg, Judy’s sister in law, notified her friend’s daughter about the book.  The daughter, Julia Terruso, is a college student and was interning at The Philadelphia Inquirer for the summer.  She was looking for stories and Eileen knew this was a great story!

Julia contacted Judy and Meloni and a date was chosen for the interview.  Julia and a photographer came to school to interview Deana, her mom, Meloni and Judy.  Here are photos from the interview and the article that appeared on August 4^th in the Philadelphia Inquirer.  Thank you, Eileen!  Thank you Julia and the Philadelphia Inquirer!

Another exciting thing to happen this summer was that CBS 3, our local CBS news station saw the article and called Judy and Meloni.  They have a reporter named Dave Huddleston and he does a news segment every week called, “Brotherly Love.”  It’s about people doing good things in the community!  Dave wanted to do a story about us!!

On August 24^th Theresa Narrazo and a photographer spent several hours interviewing and filming us.  It was an incredible day and we felt like movie stars!! Here are photos from the day and the link to the news story.  Thank you CBS 3!

The Process

THE WRITING OF THE BOOK 

Where did we write?  We wrote in Judy’s office, in Meloni’s art room and even at Meloni’s house.  We wrote on our lunch breaks, on our prep periods and after school. 

Deana told her story, Judy wrote it down.  Judy encouraged Deana to get silly, funny, and serious, use more adjectives, etc.  Somewhere along the way, the idea of a sun came up.  Then the sun was on another page and another page.  Before they knew it, the sun was the focus of every page and that is how they decided to have the sun go from happy to sad as Deana’s illness got worse.  However, then a title was needed and the title HAD to have the word “sun” in it.  Special thanks go out to Debbie Zimmerman, Judy’s friend, who came up with our title:  “How My Sun Got Its Smile” 

The book was actually finished at a Boston Market near Deana’s house on a hot August day.  Deana sat in the restaurant and read the entire book aloud.  Halfway through, she stopped and said: “I’m good, aren’t I?”  You know what – she was better than good!  She read her own words with the most beautiful expression and enthusiasm!  We can’t wait to have her read a page from the actual book and put it on this website.  

THE DECISION TO SELF PUBLISH

Once the book became a reality, Judy and Meloni decided this book NEEDED to be read and seen by anyone affected by cancer, going through a difficult period in their life or simply someone needing inspiration.

They decided to self – publish, which was a very expensive way to go, but the only way.  Author House was the self-publishing company decided upon and payments were made.  They were on their way!