Interview with Joan Brasher, co-author of The Donut That Roared
What is The Donut That Roared?
The Donut That Roared is a book that helps prepare children for getting an MRI. The main character is a boy named Jackson who has to get lots of MRIs. He uses his imagination to visualize the MRI machine as an obnoxious, noisy donut. He has lots of tips to share on how to make an MRI day less scary (even fun!)
What inspired you to create it?
My nephew Jackson was diagnosed with a benign brain tumor at age 10. One of the first things he had to do was get an MRI and he has had more than two dozen of them since then (and counting). Because of the noise and fear of the unknown, it was pretty traumatic for him and the whole family. But it got easier over the time. One day he came to me and said that at his latest MRI appointment, he saw a little boy going in as he was coming out, the boy looked terrified. He told me he wished he had a way to help him realize that he could get through it and it was going to be OK. That’s when we started talking about writing a children’s book together. He showed me his journals where he talked about this fear and concerns about MRI day and how he was coping with it. We came up with the idea that the book should have journaling pages as well as his tips for “surviving” an MRI and info for parents at the end.
If you could change one thing in pediatric healthcare, what would it be?
Child Life Specialists should get a lot more funding and support! And there should be many, many more books for them to share with children (and their families) to help them cope with the anxiety and fear that comes with having a sick child. I’m a mom too, and children’s books have always been a wonderful way for me to connect with my son on all sorts of topics. Books bring people together and encourage conversation. They also can provide hope. Our desire is that this book will be something positive for children, their parents (and siblings, who often feel lost in the process) to focus on. We hope they smile, and find comfort, while in the midst of fear and uncertainty.
Where can we purchase the books?
The very best place is at our website, www.donutthatroared.com! When you purchase the book there, the proceeds go to printing more books and supporting families with a sick child. I literally am fulfilling orders from my apartment in Nashville! We hope to get this book into the hands of all the wonderful child life specialists everywhere so they can share with families who are facing that big roaring donut!
Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and Jackson?
I live in Nashville and he lives in Los Angeles. His mom is my identical twin sister and we have always been super close, despite the miles between us (1,971 as the crow flies). I’m a writer and communications professional, and have always loved to draw. So I came up with the story based on lots of conversations with Jackson. I hired an art student to help me turn my drawings into digital art, and a designer to do the production. We self published the book at our own cost as a labor of love. Jackson’s 15 now and just started high school. His tumor remains inoperable, but it doesn’t slow him down much. He just got back from his Make-A-Wish trip to New Zealand, where he took part in extreme sports! He also is a junior ambassador for Children’s Hospital Los Angeles as well as Make-A-Wish, so he’s getting used to giving presentations, being interviewed on live TV and even doing red carpet interviews!
Learn more about Joan and Jackson at DonutThatRoared.com. You can also follow them on Facebook and Instagram.
We are thrilled to offer a giveaway of this amazing resource. To enter, leave a comment below.
I just started working in our MRI unit. I hope I win! Sounds like an awesome book!
Good luck Lauren!
Congrats Lauren, you are our winner!
This would be great for my hospital because we often get consulted for MRIs in radiology but there is no child life specialist currently there. I work in the Emergency Dept and I often prep kids for MRIs too!
That is a great place for it. Good luck!
I work as a CCLS in radiation. I would love a copy of this book!
Great place for it. Good luck!
This sounds like an amazing resource and what better way for a patient and family to learn about the MRI experience then from a patient who has successfully had one. Thank you for the tool.
It is a phenomenal tool. Good luck!
This looks like a wonderful resource! And what a great blog. It is always a good story to hear where someone’s inspiration comes from.
They really are making an impact on children’s healthcare experiences.
I prep kids for an MRI almost every day! This would be an amazing resource!
That’s great. Good luck!
Love the book title! It would be so great to add this to my radiology resources. Thanks for promoting coping and child life!!
We love child life specialists! Good luck.
I love having new resources to support the kids I work with. Having this book would make being the personal escort for kids that much easier.
It really is a great resource. Good luck!
What a great idea. This book would also help children whose parent might be undergoing an MRI. We need more of this type book written in simple friendly language.
Agree, that is why this one was created. Good luck!
I love this! So many kids would benefit from this at my hospital!
You got it. Good luck!
I am a certified child life specialist working in a children’s hospital within an adult hospital with only myself and two others. As we grow our program I am constantly seeking and trying to expand resources not only for our department, but for those who support children when child life is unable to be present. I’d love to be considered!!
That is great to hear. Growing a program takes a lot of time and patience. Good luck to you.
This is a great resource for anyone in the childlife field or have children that may need to have an MRI. Honestly, it could bring comfort to a young adult like my own who panicked before taking her exam. As mom I tapped into how I would talk her thru scary situations as a child. This book would be a resource for me in so many ways!!
Yes, it’s a great too. Good luck!
Hi. Im Angie from the Philippines and one of only 3 CCLS in the country. There is a dearth of resources here so we’ve been trying to come up with our own books and other helpful materials. None on MRI yet though. Often we collaborate with other organisations and individuals. Child life programs are in only 10 hospitals in the Philippines and is expected to grow. Support and collaborations are most welcome as these will definitely positively impact the many chronically ill children in the Philippines.
We love hearing that you are working hard at making a difference in the lives of children. Good luck in the giveaway.
I’ve always explained it looking like a donut and this is perfect! Who doesn’t love a donut with sprinkles to engage them in learning?
Good luck!