This is when the idea of writing a rhyming storybook with their eldest daughter Isabella, who is now aged six, was born.
“We thought what a great thing to do little cartoon monsters in a way that aren’t scary,” said Lauren.
“The book’s very subtle. Isabella doesn’t even know the word – we haven’t told her that word.”
Isabella wanted to write the book from her own perspective with lots of colourful illustrations on each page.
“We actually kept it from Chris,” said Lauren.
“We didn’t tell him about it and we gave it to him on Father’s Day. He was speechless. He didn’t know what to say.
“He didn’t know whether to read it there and then because obviously the front cover said ‘Daddy’s little monsters’ he knows that is what she knows [about the cancer].
“He just told her how proud he was and we’re both so proud of her.”
The book project has helped to keep the conversation flowing about how Isabella was feeling.
“It has actually stopped her from closing off emotionally, so she’s very, very open with her feelings and questions towards the diagnosis,” said Lauren.
While the book was initially to help their own family, it is now available to buy on Amazon after a family friend suggested that it could also help others facing similar circumstances.
“We just weren’t expecting it to blow up, to be honest,” she said.
“It’s been up for a week and she has sold 138 copies.”
