"The Sparkle You Carry"

 Meet Sam Rockwood, a brave third grader who knows his way around the hospital. He's had surgeries before- but this time, something magical unfolds. Inspired by the author’s real-life son, this story is a whimsical tale of resilience. It is a love letter to all kids navigating their own medical journeys, the doctors who help heal them, and those around them who continue to be inspired by their strength.

Sam is preparing for bone graft surgery which is a common craniofacial surgery around age 8-10. It will keep him sidelined from his favorite activities which is a bummer until he is confronted with a surprise twist. The book intertwines moments of levity that will leave any reader smiling and inspired. 

"The Sparkle You Carry" fosters empathy and allows children with craniofacial conditions to not only be seen, but celebrated.  It would make a great addition to a classroom library, speech therapist's office, medical facility, or any child's bookshelf!

Sam's journey through this book can help any child build empathy and learn how to persevere through their own life challenges as well.

Since childhood, snippets of stories swirled around Stacy's mind, often distracting her from "the real work" of life. She can still smell the dusty library of St Agatha's, a now shuttered school, where she spent her childhood. When Stacy became a teacher, she envisioned each student as a main character in their own unique story. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Journalism/Mass Communications and a Master's degree in Childhood Education. She currently works as a preschool special education teacher and is lucky to be inspired by her students every single day.

As a mom, she searched for books for her son. She found few books geared toward cleft patients, beyond the baby years. School aged children are at the height of their medical journeys and a gap exists for quality literature to help them along the way. This book seeks to fill that void. As a teacher of 15 years, she has worked with students from many backgrounds including those managing a variety of health challenges. 

Stacy lives with her husband, Mike, and their two sons named Andrew and Benjamin. Ben is the inspiration behind Sam!  They also have a rambunctious Labrador retriever. named Auggie. Together they reside in a small town south of Buffalo.