Author Lily K. Rose Writes Children's Book To Inspire Kids to Accept People's Differences
Author Lilly K. Rose. (Pictures provided by Lilly Rose)
Author Lilly K. Rose wrote a book in hopes of the world seeing through her daughter Korie’s eyes and witnessing what her life is like with a mother who has KTWS.
Klippel Trenaunay Weber Syndrome, or KTWS, is a condition that affects the development of blood cells, skin, muscles, and even bones. It is characterized by a birthmark on the skin, with excessive soft tissue growth that usually involves a single limb. People with KTWS also develop varicose veins that usually extend from the lower leg all the way up to someone’s bottom. The abnormal growth is said to cause pain, a feeling of heaviness, and reduced movement in the affected area for the 1 in 100,000 people worldwide who experience the condition.
Author Lilly K. Rose. (Pictures provided by Lilly Rose)
Growing up, Rose dealt with hardships because of her physical limitations. The condition restricts Rose from physical activities that refrain her from over exhausting her body; however, her mind still runs on imagination and writing. She wanted to write and share her love of stories with avid readers, but it wasn’t until her daughter's birth: Korie, that she realized what she wanted to write about and the message behind it.
“I remembered my challenges with fear and self-worth as a child,” she recalled. “That lit a fire in my soul to help other children and adults understand the value of friendship and acceptance.”
This determination led Rose to write the book, “The Adventures of Korie: Will You Be My Friend?”. Rose knew the world saw her differently than her daughter did. So, she wrote the book to educate her daughter and other children on balancing their views alongside the world's perspective.
“My goal was to transform the negative narrative of prejudice and discrimination and its adverse impact on children,” Rose said.
Rose’s daughter, Korie. (Pictures provided by Lilly Rose)
Audiences who read the book said they have seen the importance of the book's message and love the ‘acknowledgment of beauty that exists in each individual's uniqueness.’ Reader and mother Tara McDaniel said that Rose’s personal story compelled her to pick up the book. She saw the overall value in the concept Korie portrayed in the story and believe it’s important to accept other people’s differences.
“I would recommend this book to children and adults,” McDaniel said. “This book shines the light on how, as children, we inadvertently learn to discriminate and isolate from each other. I love how the underlying message bridges social gaps.”
Rose hopes that even though children may observe differences, they realize people are all born to love, regardless of how different we are.
“This new adventure in motherhood changed my focus to the current positives in my life instead of focusing solely on the hardships of the past,” Rose said.
To purchase The Adventures of Korie: Will You Be My Friend? Click here.