My Life Beyond Leukemia: A Mayo Clinic Patient Story
A Mayo Clinic Patient Story
Inspired by Rae Burremo’s experience with leukemia, My Life Beyond Leukemia: A Mayo Clinic Patient Story uses 36 pages of full illustrations to tell the true story of what it is like to have childhood cancer from a child’s perspective.
After going through treatment for leukemia, Amy is used to visiting the hospital. As she falls asleep for another medical test, she suddenly finds herself on an adventure. With the help of a shrinking potion, other magic tools and some friends, she’s on a mission to help other kids face leukemia and its treatment.
What is it really like to have this childhood cancer? Find out how Amy beats leukemia and discovers life beyond her illness.
Children’s voices are rarely heard amid the complexity of modern medicine. That's why every story in the My Life Beyond series stems from the imagination and experience of a Mayo Clinic patient. The books were developed through collaboration between these patients, Mayo Clinic physicians and author-illustrator Hey Gee. Through this unique lens of inspiring real-life experiences, the series explores how children view illness, challenges and recovery.
Leukemia is estimated to affect 1 in every 1000 children, but children’s voices and their experiences with this disease are rarely heard. Created through collaboration between pediatric patients, their doctors, and children’s author and illustrator Hey Gee, My Life Beyond Leukemia dives into the minds and imaginations of child patients at Mayo Clinic to explain how children experience illness, challenges, and recovery.
The My Life Beyond graphic novel series is published in collaboration with Fondation Ipsen.
Mayo Clinic Press Kids creates empowering health and wellness content in partnership with pediatric experts. Proceeds from the sale of every book go to benefit important medical research and education at Mayo Clinic.
Guillaume Federighi (AKA Hey Gee) is a French and American author and illustrator. He began his career in 1998 by exploring the world of street art and graffiti in different European capitals. After moving to New York, Hey Gee developed a reputation for a direct and instantaneous style of graphic design and illustration that brings out unifying ideas, creates distinctive characters, and affects all generations. He is also the owner and creative director of Hey Gee Studio, a full-service creative agency based in New York City.
Rae Burremo was a typical 5-year-old when she developed leg pain that left her limping. For a couple weeks, her parents and doctors tried to figure out what was causing it until finally they looked at her legs with an MRI and she was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. She had a great group of friends and family who supported her through treatment by making sure she always had her favorite salty snacks and plenty of art supplies. Rae loves spaghetti with red sauce, peperoni pizza, and every kind of fruit. She is passionate about animals, is a devoted friend, loves to listen to music, draw, jump on the trampoline, swim, figure skating and visit Disney World with her family. Rae is now a healthy 10-year-old in fourth grade who dreams of being an interior designer when she grows up.
Dr. Mira Kohorst is a board-certified Pediatric Hematologist and Oncologist. She is also an Assistant Professor of Pediatric Hematology Oncology at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science in Rochester, Minnesota. Dr. Kohorst specializes in treating cancer, leukemia, lymphoma, and bone marrow failure syndromes in pediatric patients, and has published 14 peer-reviewed articles, book chapters and numerous abstracts about these conditions. Dr. Kohorst was the recipient of the 2020 Excellence in Supportive/Palliative Care Award from MD Anderson Cancer Center and was recognized as the Pauline Robinson “Robin” Bush Honorary Fellow at the Mayo School of Graduate Medical Education.
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