Art inspired by imagination,
nature, and the stories around us.

The heart behind Lenny

Inspired by Mason’s courage

Lenny was inspired by my son, Mason, and his journey with Type 1 diabetes. When Mason was three years old, we noticed that he was drinking a tremendous amount of water, frequently wetting the bed, and sometimes seemed very lethargic.

One night, he became extremely lethargic and was not responding properly, so we rushed him to the emergency room. His blood sugar was immediately checked and measured an astonishing 1,050 mg/dL. Our local hospital transferred him to Shands Children’s Hospital, where he was officially diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes.

For the past 13 years, living with Type 1 has been an emotional and exhausting roller coaster. Through it all, our family has grown stronger, and Mason has become one of the strongest young people I know.

When Mason was first diagnosed, he received a little stuffed turtle at the hospital. He carried it for comfort for many years throughout his journey with Type 1. That turtle became the inspiration for Lenny.

I created The Adventures of Lenny the Brave Sea Turtle to give children a courageous character who helps them feel seen, supported, and strong. I hope you will continue to follow Lenny wherever his adventures may take him!