How Lia and her Eye Patch Came to Be
I'm Josephine – mother, author, and illustrator of Lia and Her Eyepatch.
Writing the story and putting our own patching journey on paper was a project close to my heart.
When we received the diagnosis of strabismus, we were initially unsettled and overwhelmed. There were so many questions, fears, and worries. Our patching journey began with many tears – and a strong refusal from our daughter to wear the patch. She was just eight months old when the therapy began – too young to understand why the patch was so important.
With time, it became easier. She began to understand, but still disliked wearing the patch – and I wondered if it would help her to meet a main character in a book who, just like her, was on her very own patching journey. A character who, despite initial difficulties and small setbacks, wears her patch day after day – and whose eye gets stronger day after day.
And indeed: Even during the first reading, she beamed at me and said that her eye also does sports and gets strong. A moment I will never forget and that deeply moved me.
Another reason why this book came into being was the many situations in which people – children and adults alike – stared at my daughter, pointed at her, or insensitively asked why she wore the patch.
Such encounters often made my daughter very sad. I wanted to create a book that not only strengthens and encourages but also educates and raises awareness – so that children and adults understand what is behind a small eye patch.
Today, the book helps her experience such moments differently. She feels confident enough to say why she wears her patch – without being sad when asked about it.
For me, this is the most beautiful sign that Lia and Her Eyepatch works: It empowers children and opens hearts.
For these moments, every second of the long development process was worth it.
I hope that Lia and Her Eyepatch will also give other families courage, joy, and self-confidence.