Our Journey Begins

Who is Mina?

Mina is our incredible little warrior. She was diagnosed with hypotonia, seizure disorder, and hearing loss to name a few, which affects her speech, mobility, and eating. She was implanted with a VNS device for seizure control, and Cochlear implants to help her hear. But these diagnoses are just words on medical charts – they don't define who Mina is or what she's capable of.

She loves watching shows like Bluey and Blippi, used to have an infectious laugh until recently, but that and her silliness is starting to slowly come back. Mina has taught us more about resilience in her short life than we could have learned in a lifetime without her.

Why "Brave Like Beans"?

You might be wondering about our blog's name. "Beans" became our nickname for Mina when she was tiny – as small as a little bean, but growing stronger every day. And "brave" – well, that's self-explanatory to anyone who has met her. "Brave Like Beans" is not just a website name; it's our family motto and the standard we try to live up to every day.

What you'll find here...

This site is intended to be many things:

• A chronicle of Mina's journey, treatments, therapies, and milestones

• A resource for other families navigating similar paths

• A honest conversation about what works, what doesn't, and the emotional landscape of caring for a child with disabilities

• A guide to self-care for caregivers who often put themselves last

• A community where no one has to feel alone in their struggles or their triumphs

We promise to share it all – the breakthroughs and setbacks, the tears and laughter, the frustrations and celebrations. Because we believe that in sharing our story authentically, we might help others feel less alone in theirs.

Join Us on This Journey

Whether you're a parent of a child with disabilities, a family member, a medical professional, or someone who simply wants to understand more about our world, we welcome you here.

We invite you to share your own experiences in the comments, to offer suggestions when you have them, and to be part of a community that understands both the unique challenges and the extraordinary joys of this journey.

Because while this path wasn't one we expected to travel, it has led us to people, places, and perspectives that have enriched our lives immeasurably. And at the center of it all is a little girl named Mina, who is teaching us every day what it truly means to be brave like Beans.

Thank you for being here. We're so glad you've joined us.

Get in touch

Send us a message! We would love to hear from you.