A six-year-old girl from Wirral has authored a touching storybook alongside her mother, designed to help children whose families are confronting cancer. The young writer sought to create a resource for other youngsters to understand the illness after her own father was diagnosed with the disease.
Isabella's father, Chris Capstick, received a diagnosis of stage 4 advanced skin cancer in March 2023, just ten months after marrying. The father of three has undergone intensive hospital treatments, major surgeries, and battled serious infections over the past two years. Amid this challenging period, the family turned to Maggie's Wirral, a local charity offering emotional and practical support to individuals living with serious illnesses. The care and guidance provided by the centre equipped the family with tools to maintain a positive outlook.
Book Created from a Child's Perspective
Although the family received significant support, Isabella worked with her mother, Lauren Capstick, to produce the book from a child's viewpoint. The project was inspired by Isabella's own experience of trying to comprehend what was happening to her father.
Lauren said: “When Chris was first diagnosed, we really struggled to find a children’s book to explain it to Isabella, which gave us the idea to make our own.” She added: “Since before Christmas, Isabella and I have been working extremely hard to write a book to help understand what’s going on with Chris from her own perspective. It’s a children’s rhyming storybook that takes a peek into our life, and what daddy is going through.”
Goal to Open Conversations and Provide Comfort
The family hopes the comforting storybook will foster honest conversations and encourage children to express their feelings during uncertain times. By sharing her own story, Isabella is demonstrating remarkable empathy to ensure other young people feel less alone. Isabella said: “I wanted to make a book for other girls and boys, whose mummy or daddy is poorly sick, so they know how I felt and that they can talk about it.”
Availability and Support for Maggie's Wirral
The inspiring publication is now available for purchase online. The family is also raising awareness for Maggie's Wirral, a free support centre that people can visit without any medical referral. The specialised local facility relies entirely on voluntary donations to continue providing free counselling and support services to the community. Anyone affected by cancer can learn more by visiting the centre on the grounds of Clatterbridge Cancer Centre, calling 01513344301, or purchasing the book via Amazon.
