Sachem Alum Pens First Book to Help Children Cope with Illness and Recovery

Sachem alum and Holtsville resident Mary Garcia recently released her first book.  It is a self-published children's book that she wrote and illustrated called Boo-Boo's New Leg:  A True Story of Illness, Acceptance and Healing.  The book is intended for children ages 4 to 12, and is especially relevant for those that are experiencing a serious illness, or life-altering operation either personally, or within their family.

Garcia, who graduated from Sachem in 1991, wrote it in honor of her best friend, Jennifer, who is living with limb loss.  She will be donating a portion of her book sales to both The Amputee Coalition and The Prosthetics Outreach Foundation.  "They need the support especially here in the United States, where healthcare is concerned, where the amount of coverage is declining now," Garcia said.

Jennifer was suddenly stricken with vascular disease in her early 20s, which ultimately resulted in the loss of one leg below the knee.  She was a smoker, and doctors theorized that the affliction was most likely a smoking-related illness.

Garcia, 39, has two children, Emma, 5, and Robert, 12, and her husband Joe is a full-time custodian at .

The book's title originated from, a true life event, when Robert explained to a little girl named Sara that Jennifer's bandaged leg was a boo-boo.  Every time she saw the leg after that she would call it a boo-boo, and then eventually Sara began referring to Jennifer as Boo-Boo.  "To this day the name stuck," said Garcia.

The book is told from 10-year-old Sara's perspective.  She narrates the story of her grownup friend who is very sick, and for whom medicines don't seem to be enough to make her well.  The young girl shares how her friend must be admitted to the hospital to undergo a special operation, called an amputation, to cure her illness.  While, this is no easy operation, and her life will be forever changed as a result, she uplifts Sara and all those around her with her resilience, laughter and friendship.

"[I wrote the book] just to raise awareness for this, because I love someone who's an amputee, and I don't want her walking around with people thinking she's any different from them," Garcia explained.  "I was just inspired by her wonderful way of thinking positively, and her sense of humor about everything."

Still life portraiture and photography featuring Garcia's children and others were used as points of reference for the illustrations.  She then drew them out in pencil, and applied the color in vivid pastels.

Boo-Boo's New Leg can be found in the parenting section of the .

The author will also be appearing at the Sachem Library's Gallery on the Green Art Show on Sunday, June 5.  Garcia will be there exhibiting original artwork, and publicizing her new business, Silhouette Sentiments by Mary, as well as promoting her book.