Hi… my name is Josie. I’m 7 years old, and I’m in third grade.

I have a serious illness called cystic fibrosis.

It makes it hard for me to breathe, and I get really tired a lot. Some days I have to stay home and do treatments instead of going outside or playing like other kids.

When I do go to school… it’s not always easy.

Some kids don’t understand why I cough so much or why I can’t keep up.
Sometimes they stare. Sometimes they laugh. Sometimes they just leave me out.

I try to be strong… but some days are really hard.

It’s just me and my dad at home.
He works a lot so he can take care of me, so most of the time it’s just me figuring things out on my own.

One day in art class, my teacher showed us how to crochet.

At first, I didn’t think I’d be good at it.
But when I made my very first little creature… I smiled.

And I hadn’t smiled like that in a while.

So I kept making them.

Little animals. Funny shapes. Tiny friends that made me feel less alone.

I started calling them Courage Creatures… because they helped me feel brave on the days I didn’t feel strong.

Now I make them for other people too.

For kids who feel different.
For people who are going through something hard.
For anyone who needs something small to hold onto.

Every Courage Creature is handmade with love.

And if one of them can make you smile… even just a little…

then that means everything to me❤️