I’ve just returned from San Diego where the national Child Life Conference took place. This was my third year as a booth vendor and first year as a speaker. Annie McCall, M.A., L.M.H.C. led most of the lecture on sibling issues and highlighted several stellar programs that reach out to these under-served children. After Annie showcased several successful programs from Sibshops, SuperSib and Camp Erin, I spoke about Art with Heart’s outreach to youth in crisis through our book projects.

As we spoke to over 150 Child Life Specialists, we shared with them an overview of the needs and profiles of siblings of children with a serious illness or disability, as well as the therapeutic reasons we created “Magnificent Marvelous Me!”

Sales were brisk at our booth, especially for the new book (dubbed MMMe for ease of typing). Each time someone came up to the booth who had not heard of us before, someone else would walk up saying “Oh! I love your books! We use them all the time! Is this a new one?!” It was so encouraging to meet the folks who are bringing Oodles and Chill & Spill to the kids and working with them in the hospital setting.