Mama's Garden of Hope: A story of how children can come to grips with Cancer
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Dr. Karen Singh's heartfelt story where a child can understand Cancer.
The story follows a cheerful young girl named Emma and her mother, who live in a charming village. They spend their afternoons bonding in their magical garden, a place filled with vibrant flowers, bees, and butterflies. Together, they tend to the plants, pull weeds, and watch the garden blossom from an outdoor swing.
The narrative shifts when Mama begins to feel constantly tired, losing her energy and her bright smile. Sitting on their swing, Mama gently explains to Emma that she has cancer, describing it as a tiny weed trying to grow in her body. Emma initially offers to pull the weed out herself, just as she does in the garden. Mama explains that a team of doctors will help: a surgeon to cut out the weed and an oncologist to use chemotherapy and radiation to kill any secret roots left behind.
Emma vows to take care of her mother, becoming "Mama's little helper". Throughout the treatment process, Emma lifts Mama’s spirits through tiny little gestures that bring Mama comfort, including making up stories, fluffing pillows and reassuring Mama that she is still as beautiful as a flower when the treatments cause her hair to fall out.
As the seasons change, Mama experiences both weak days and encouraging days where she is strong enough to sit outside and watch Emma garden. Eventually, after months of treatment, Mama receives the news that she is cancer-free. The story concludes with a large celebration in their garden with friends who served as pillars of support. Emma and Mama share a final moment under the stars, promising to face all future challenges together, just as they tackle weeds in their garden.
The catalyst for Mama’s Garden of Hope occurred during a routine clinic day for Dr. Karen Singh, a specialist radiation oncologist. She observed a young girl sitting outside a consultation room; though the girl appeared busy colouring, Dr. Singh noticed her bat ears actively listening to her parents' difficult medical conversation.
Recognising that children often understand far more than adults give them credit for, Dr. Singh saw how overwhelmed parents struggled to explain their cancer journey to their kids. She conceived the book as a communication tool to bridge this gap. She wanted to help families invite children into the process so they wouldn't feel left "on the outside looking through a glass window." Importantly, the book flips the traditional narrative: rather than just focusing on parents supporting kids, it honours the children who quietly support their parents through a medical crisis.
Once the idea struck, the creative process moved with incredible speed. The narrative began unfolding in Dr. Singh's mind while she was sitting in traffic on her drive home. The very next morning, she began drafting, and the entire story poured out over a single weekend.To ensure the tone was perfect, Dr. Singh utilised her three children as her first editors. They read through the manuscript with her, pointing out what resonated, what sounded too silly, and where the language felt too much like a clinical medical textbook. Their input ensured the story remained grounded, accessible, and emotionally honest.
While the writing took only a weekend, bringing the book to life visually took six months. Dr. Singh collaborated with an illustrator based in Japan, navigating time zones and back-and-forth revisions to perfectly capture her highly specific vision.
The story follows a cheerful young girl named Emma and her mother, who live in a charming village. They spend their afternoons bonding in their magical garden, a place filled with vibrant flowers, bees, and butterflies. Together, they tend to the plants, pull weeds, and watch the garden blossom from an outdoor swing.
The narrative shifts when Mama begins to feel constantly tired, losing her energy and her bright smile. Sitting on their swing, Mama gently explains to Emma that she has cancer, describing it as a tiny weed trying to grow in her body. Emma initially offers to pull the weed out herself, just as she does in the garden. Mama explains that a team of doctors will help: a surgeon to cut out the weed and an oncologist to use chemotherapy and radiation to kill any secret roots left behind.
Emma vows to take care of her mother, becoming "Mama's little helper". Throughout the treatment process, Emma lifts Mama’s spirits through tiny little gestures that bring Mama comfort, including making up stories, fluffing pillows and reassuring Mama that she is still as beautiful as a flower when the treatments cause her hair to fall out.
As the seasons change, Mama experiences both weak days and encouraging days where she is strong enough to sit outside and watch Emma garden. Eventually, after months of treatment, Mama receives the news that she is cancer-free. The story concludes with a large celebration in their garden with friends who served as pillars of support. Emma and Mama share a final moment under the stars, promising to face all future challenges together, just as they tackle weeds in their garden.
The catalyst for Mama’s Garden of Hope occurred during a routine clinic day for Dr. Karen Singh, a specialist radiation oncologist. She observed a young girl sitting outside a consultation room; though the girl appeared busy colouring, Dr. Singh noticed her bat ears actively listening to her parents' difficult medical conversation.
Recognising that children often understand far more than adults give them credit for, Dr. Singh saw how overwhelmed parents struggled to explain their cancer journey to their kids. She conceived the book as a communication tool to bridge this gap. She wanted to help families invite children into the process so they wouldn't feel left "on the outside looking through a glass window." Importantly, the book flips the traditional narrative: rather than just focusing on parents supporting kids, it honours the children who quietly support their parents through a medical crisis.
Once the idea struck, the creative process moved with incredible speed. The narrative began unfolding in Dr. Singh's mind while she was sitting in traffic on her drive home. The very next morning, she began drafting, and the entire story poured out over a single weekend.To ensure the tone was perfect, Dr. Singh utilised her three children as her first editors. They read through the manuscript with her, pointing out what resonated, what sounded too silly, and where the language felt too much like a clinical medical textbook. Their input ensured the story remained grounded, accessible, and emotionally honest.
While the writing took only a weekend, bringing the book to life visually took six months. Dr. Singh collaborated with an illustrator based in Japan, navigating time zones and back-and-forth revisions to perfectly capture her highly specific vision.
