Welcome to 2021

Hello and Happy 2021!

As we enter the new year, many exciting things are bound to happen. Milestones we will celebrate. Together or apart, joy reaches us all in these moments.

After all…

The SuperCaptainBraveMan book series will be celebrating its 5^th year anniversary this April!

And since our first book launch took place on Kyle’s 10^th birthday, he will be 15 years old in April, too.

If you’re new to the world of SuperCaptainBraveMan or an old friend who just wants to say hello, then it would be my pleasure to catch you up on the last 5 years of the SuperCaptainBraveMan book series and the wonderful person who inspired it.

Kyle is an amazing child, sorry, teenager, who has shown all who meet him what true bravery and strength look like.

Diagnosed at the age of 2 with a rare genetic mitochondrial disorder, Kyle has persevered through the years with the help of his parents, sister, family, nurses, doctors, physical & occupational therapists, teachers, and friends.

Since the first book, he’s grown tall enough for a new wheelchair. Almost as tall as some of his nurses, myself included! Kyle has a specialized sit-to-stand apparatus that allows him to stand for a while to strengthen his muscles. He’s also upgraded some of his equipment, including the ventilator and the tracheostomy tube that help him breathe, to meet the needs of his growing body.

In addition to the physical, Kyle has expanded his mind culturally. He has visited many places and seen many sights. He even went on a cruise and watched a Cirque du Soleil show. (More on that in a future blog.)

Throughout all of Kyle’s experiences and the spirit he’s shown these past 5 years, he’s inspired the SuperCaptainBraveMan series to grow with him.

The series has grown to include four hardcover books as well as a spin-off series. Here’s a quick recap of the books in The Adventures of SuperCaptainBraveMan.

Released in April 2016, Book 1: A Day at the Park introduces the world to SuperCaptainBraveMan and his message of inclusiveness. In 2017, Book 2: A Spectrum of Love invites readers to learn about Autism Spectrum Disorder. Book 3: Nurses are Amazing! debuted in 2018 and is dedicated to all of the nurses who work hard for their patients. Our latest hardcover in 2019, Book 4: Down on Safari! brings us face to face with Mia and Jack, who teach us that—extra chromosome or no—family is everything.

While our hardcover books explore how SuperCaptainBraveMan helps others, the companion series The Adventures of SuperCaptainBraveMan: A Kyle Adventure gives us a glimpse into Kyle’s everyday life. In it, we see how he learns from the people around him and watch him reach out to make lifelong friendships along the way.

The Adventures of SuperCaptainBraveMan: A Kyle Adventure book series includes:

Book 1: Trixie, the Super Dog where Kyle learns about service animals and the importance they have on the humans in their lives. Book 2: Signs of the Season introduces Kyle to David, a classmate who is deaf and uses American Sign Language to communicate. Book 3: A Sweet Summer opens the conversation of Type 1 Diabetes to Kyle as he meets a new friend, Arjun, at summer camp.

As the world of SuperCaptainBraveMan expands, we look forward to the unique people we’ll meet and the stories we’ll tell. All of the books in the SuperCaptainBraveMan series are available in our shop or amazon.com.

2020 has been a year to remember for many reasons. We here at SuperCaptainBraveMan have followed Kyle’s lead and faced it with strength, trust, and most of all, bravery.

So, to the SuperCaptainBraveFAM, new and old, happy new year!

Don’t forget to like and follow us for more content and upcoming announcements!

Instagram: @supercaptainbraveman

Facebook: www.facebook.com/supercaptainbraveman

World Autism Awareness Day + SuperCaptainBraveMan

It’s April 2nd — the day the world lights up in blue to spread awareness about autism spectrum disorder. In honor of this important day, we’re so excited to announce the launch of our second book in the SuperCaptainBraveMan series, A Spectrum of Love!

Together, Victor Lodevico and I respectively illustrated and wrote this SuperCaptainBraveMan book to help young kids learn about autism in a simple, colorful way. We know autism is not an easy condition to explain to adults, let alone kids, so we took some inspiration from the parallels of ‘being on the spectrum’ by using a rainbow metaphor and color theory to show different kids with different talents and interests on different shades of the spectrum.

We hope this story touches many families all over the world. Click on over to watch our introduction  video on YouTube, visit SuperCaptainBraveMan.com, Amazon, iBooks, Kobo Books or Smashwords to buy the hardcover or ebook, and help spread the word!

🌈🌎

 

TeamCoben spent his afternoon learning about Kyle, aka SuperCaptainBraveMan

The original testimonial was written by TeamCoben. I am reposting it here with permission.

While Coben has been through so many obstacles, he still has a very hard time accepting that other#children are #sick like him. As #adults I think we want to find others in a similar situation as ours for a sense of #comradery maybe it’s just to know that we’re not alone… ultimately we just want someone to #understand.
But with kids it’s different. Coben and most the kids we meet, keep to themselves, and don’t seem to find the same comfort as adults do in finding someone in like circumstances.
But here is a book created by #parents and their son’s daily #caretaker helping us as parents to open segways with our kids, both #healthy and sick, to grasp an understanding of what it’s like to be different. I asked Coben, “what did he think about other children he had seen in wheelchairs before he had one of his own?” Very sweetly and innocent he said “I thought maybe their legs were broken”
Kids are so matter of fact, so I think it’s important to use family time as an #opportunity to educate them on these topics.

Not long ago Coben had a VERY long day in chemo and wanted ice cream on the way home. Of course I stopped, unloaded his wheelchair, put on his mask, sought out a ramp and worked our way into the shop. Outside sat a family of 5, a set of parents and kids ranging from maybe 5-10… the middle child asks “what’s wrong with him, why is he like that?” (In my mind I responded “you mean what’s right with him?”) But I of course simply said “well, he has cancer” to which the youngest child immediately asks “Is he gonna die?” Something in me didn’t feel comfortable offering a definite “NO” since #truth is no one really knows… there are treatments, not cures. But I realized that I was the only one panicking over that question, Coben didn’t seem to think anything of it.
He has been so educated on his situation that he has a mature grasp on the question of his own mortality.
So again we are reminded, there is so much we can learn from our kids. Take this #September for#ChildhoodCancerAwarenessMonth as an opportunity to discuss these topics with your children.
They won’t learn compassion and understanding out in the world, so why not use the time at home to learn it as a family? Put your child in the situation… “if you became I’ll tomorrow… if you were confined to a wheel chair… if you couldn’t visit with friends : how would you feel?”
I strongly encourage you to check out Super Captain Brave Man, whether or not the kids walk away with lessons, you certainly will!

#TeamCoben #gogold #bethechange#settheexample #familylife #bestlifeever #read#teach #educate #compassionproject #feels#cancersucks #kidswithcancer#childhoodcancerawareness

The art of being a great nurse: illustrated by Victor Lodevico

Here’s a video we put together so you could get to know Victor Lodevico, the artist behind the SuperCaptainBraveMan series.

Not only is Victor an amazing illustrator, he also happens to be Kyle Norman’s nurse in real life.

You’ll see the love and commitment Victor has for Kyle, which has helped fuel the magic of his artwork.

We’re so thankful for Victor, and we hope you enjoy his SuperCaptainBraveman illustrations as much as we do!

Picture This…SuperCaptainBraveMan Heads to Nursery School

Last week, Nurse Leah Lodevico had the privilege of reading The Adventures of SuperCaptainBraveMan to a spritely class of four and five year olds at Pacific Clinics Head Start Program Lexington Center in Glendale, California.The children were very attentive and engaged. After hearing the story, they drew pictures of what they remembered. Check out these masterpieces!

Little Linda outlined Emily smiling brightly…

Then colored her picture in beautifully. Way to go, Linda!

There’s a lot of love happening in this playground picture!

Little Angelina’s creation could be aptly titled, “Kyle. Blue Period.”

Monica is surely going to be a brilliant abstract artist when she grows up!

Remy expresses her joy at watching her mommy, Leah, read the book to her class. Hooray!!!

If you’d like your child’s class to have access to The Adventures of SuperCaptainBraveMan, let us know! We’d be happy to get in contact with your child’s school. Or better yet, you can purchase books and gift them to your local schools, hospitals or libraries by ordering at www.SuperCaptainBraveMan.com.

Book Launch Birthday Blast!

Saturday, April 23rd was a day worth celebrating about. It was the day The Adventures of SuperCaptainBraveMan children’s book officially launched, AND it was the day that Kyle, the central figure of the book, turned 10 years old!

The party was attended by friends, family, and special acquaintances totaling more than 130 from all across the country.The party started at 1 pm on an absolutely gorgeous, picture-perfect Southern California day. As guests filtered in, they were greeted with festive music in a park-like backyard atmosphere.

Me and my dog Mochi

The stage where my book reading took place

Fun obstacle course for the kids to play on

My silly nurse Brigette doing her best supercaptainbravegirl impression

My new friend Frankie

My friends Yvonne and Josie

My friends Sam and Axel

Here’s daddy, Ms. Sharon, mommy and Victor reading my book for the first time

Here’s Brigette, Ms. Sharon, daddy, mommy, Victor, Mochi and me

My yummy birthday cake

Blowing out the candles

Mommy with my favorite home nurses

Caterer Chef Jaydene, Delectable Creations

My friend Jax

Victor and Samantha (a.k.a, “Santa”)

 

Here’s a shout-out to all the vendors that helped contribute to the day:

• Chef Jaydene Delectable Creations — exceptional catering
• The Inflators — balloon twisting
• InkaBink Kids — fun activities for the kids
• Party On! Rentals — jumpy house and monster obstacle course
• Balloons by Pat — Balloon Decor
• La Creme Bakery — Cake
• Smart Party Rents — Tables & Chairs

Thanks to everyone for making the day so much fun!

The Adventures of SuperCaptainBraveMan is on sale now. Buy it here!

 

 

Book Release: April 23, 2016

We’re excited to announce the upcoming launch of our children’s book series, The Adventures of SuperCaptain! Book 1: A Day at the Park, will be released on Kyle’s birthday, April 23, 2016.

The book marks a special collaboration between husband and wife team Paul and Jennifer Norman, who co-authored the book, in conjunction with Kyle’s nurse, Victor Lodevico, who happens to also be a very talented digital artist.

Here’s the Synopsis:

Kyle is a boy like any other boy his age, only he has a rare condition that hinders his day-to-day physical abilities. It is when Kyle dreams that he transforms into his alter ego, SuperCaptainBraveMan!

SuperCaptainBraveMan is a friend to all kids, helping them discover their own courage and strength to overcome daily challenges.

In Book 1: A Day at the Park, SuperCaptainBraveMan helps Emily, a girl in a wheelchair, make new friends.