Seeing a child go through a battle with Cancer is heartbreaking. It’s hard to know what to say or do as they are going through the tough emotions and confusion that comes with this fight. How do you help them cope and find meaning in their illness? Well, Beads of Courage, an organization that implements evidence-based supportive care programs in children’s hospitals has developed a program to do just that.

Colorful beads, each having a meaning are given to a child marking big milestones throughout their treatment; blue ones represent each trip to the cancer clinic, white for chemotherapy and glow-in-the-dark beads for radiation treatment. There are 22 different bead colors, including a final “Purple Heart” bead representing the end of treatment. The beads represent the personal journey of courage and strength for each child, but also serve as an inspiration to all.