Beads of Courage® is a resilience-based intervention designed to support and strengthen the protective resources in children coping with serious illness. Through the program children tell their story using colorful beads as meaningful symbols of courage that commemorate milestones they have achieved along their unique treatment path.
Upon enrollment each child is given the Beads of Courage® bead color guide with a detachable membership card. Their Beads of Courage® journey begins when each child is first given a length of string and beads that spell out their first name. Then, colorful beads, each representing a different treatment milestone are given to the child by their professional health care provider to add to their Beads of Courage® collection throughout their treatment.
Donated handmade beads are given to children as they pass treatment milestones that are distinguished by a one-of-a-kind bead. As a member of the Houston Society of Glass Beadmakers I am privileged to be a part of the Beads of Courage program. Our chapter donates beads every month to Beads of Courage and our members are all committed to making the best beads we can for the kids.
The purple heart bead is given to a child who has successfully completed his or her treatment and signifies their courageous battle. When I make a heart I can feel the power of the bead and the happiness knowing that it represents a child’s triumph over cancer or another serious illness. Here is one of the purple hearts I've made for Beads of Courage.
The butterfly bead is given to the family of a child who passes away during his or her treatment. I haven’t made any butterflies yet because I have been devoting my time to making hearts, but my sister Becky Mason has made many, many butterflies for the families of BOC. She tells me that the butterflies are the most difficult to make because they represent the passing of a child, but they also celebrate the life of a child and the beads are cherished by their families.
Click on the butterfly to see more
of Becky's beautiful butterfly beads
If you are a beadmaker and can donate beads, Beads of Courage is always in need of lampwork beads, especially purple hearts. Click on the link at the top of the page to see their website and learn how you can participate too.
