When his mom was first diagnosed with non-Hodgkins’ lymphoma in 2019, Ethan Niu felt lost and confused. To help other children navigate a parent’s cancer diagnosis, he has written and illustrated a book, “Brave Little Fighters.”

Now a senior at Harriton High School, Niu wants to help children understand the science behind cancer, potential treatment, and most importantly to know that their parent’s diagnosis isn’t their fault.

He said he also wanted them to know there are ways to support their family member with cancer.

“You don’t have to just watch from the sidelines,” he said.

Niu’s mom beat the cancer and now he is focused on reaching as many other families facing cancer as possible.

During his mom’s diagnosis and treatment, Niu’s family found a strong community of support from oncologists at Penn Medicine and other families coping with similar experiences

He turned to that community when writing his book. Oncologists at Penn and child specialist Madison Galvin at the University of Michigan’s Cancer Center helped Niu edit the book and gave extensive feedback.

He published “Brave Little Fighters” on Amazon in July and over the holidays he ran a campaign to give away 100 copies of the book to hospitals, schools, and individual families.

The parent organization of the book is Chem Corner.

He told MONTCO Today that he is continuing the campaign to give away books in January.

The book is also available in the Children’s Section of the Gladwyne Free Library and is a recommended reading on the University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center’s “Families Facing Cancer resource list.

Harriton High School is also making it available for all students to check out.

Niu also gave the book to his fourth-grade teacher who had cancer.

“She said it helped her children,” he added.

Niu, 17, lives in Gladwyne.

Read more about the Holiday Giveaway on the book’s website here.

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