Our Story

Inspired by Family • Brightening Hospital Stays • Spreading Joy Worldwide

Hello, I’m Susan Downing, creator of the Bradykin series and founder of the Bradykin Children’s Foundation. For over 12 years, my family and I have been writing Bradykin books together joyful stories inspired by our beloved Coton de Tulear and the values we hold close to our hearts: kindness, connection, simpler times, the importance of family, giving back, and the magic of imagination. For more than a decade, we have personally self-funded this mission, dedicating our time, resources, and hearts to making a difference for children and families everywhere. 

This mission began with my own family’s journey. When my daughter Megan was just two months old, she was hospitalized. One night, a nurse quietly handed me a beautiful handmade quilt. I never knew who made it. It was an anonymous gift from someone who simply wanted to offer comfort. People also donated toys and activities for my son Matthew, who was still little himself.

Over the years, Megan spent time in and out of hospitals, and time after time, small acts of kindness made the hardest days brighter. Whether it was a small toy, a warm blanket, or a thoughtful note, each gesture reminded us that we were not alone. Those moments of generosity stayed with me and planted the seed for what would one day become the Bradykin Children’s Foundation.

From the very beginning, Bradykin has been about more than books. We believe every child deserves comfort, fun, and hope especially during challenging times. That’s why we created the Bradykin Children’s Foundation: to deliver Bradykin Care Packages to children in hospitals, filled with our family-written books, a cuddly plush, coloring pages, and fun activities designed to spark joy, inspire reading, and bring comfort.

Bradykin himself was a cherished part of our family playful, loving, and full of personality. Though he has since passed, his joyful spirit lives on in every story we write and every care package we deliver. His adventures continue to bring smiles to children everywhere, carrying forward the love and happiness he gave to us.

Hospital stays can be lonely, overwhelming, and uncertain for a child. Our mission is to bring a moment of light a giggle, a smile, a new favorite story right to their bedside. Every book we write is donated to the Foundation, so when a child receives a Bradykin story, they’re holding a gift from our hearts to theirs.

Reading and play are powerful tools for children’s well-being. A good book can transport a child to a place of adventure, hope, and laughter, while play encourages creativity, connection, and resilience. Together, they nurture mental health, inspire imagination, and remind children they are not alone.

Through Bradykin’s adventures, we encourage kids to dream, explore, and embrace the joy of being a child whether that’s playing outside, curling up with a book, or sharing a story with a friend. And through the Bradykin Children’s Foundation, we share that joy far beyond our own family, reaching hospital rooms, schools, and communities across the country and around the world.

Our goal is simple: brighten hospital stays, encourage reading, and spread hope one Bradykin story at a time, while always giving back to the communities we serve.

But we can’t do this alone. Every package we deliver is made possible by people like you families, donors, sponsors, and caring hearts who believe in the magic of kindness.

Together, we can bring comfort, joy, and imagination to children who need it most here at home and across the globe.

#BradykinMoves
~Brightening Hospital Stays, One Story at a Time.