Welcome to Dex’s Heroes
Dex’s Heroes was conceived on the 18th June 2020 one day after Dexter’s seventh birthday and three years after he was diagnosed with leukemia.
On average everyday in the UK five children under fourteen are diagnosed with cancer
So today four new parents are going through the same nightmare Dexter’s parents did four years ago.
On that day four years ago Dexter’s mum realised that she had to pull out all the stops in 6 major areas to help him cope with his treatment. The better she could do this the better chance Dexter would have of recovery, and it worked.
Dex’s Heroes was created after Dexter received a poster of himself as a SuperHero for his 7th birthday. Now using a colourful ‘Dragon Drop’ (drag and drop) on a laptop, tablet or mobile a child can create their own unique SuperHero poster and six pocket size cards in a few minutes for each of Josie’s 6 areas.
A powerful psychological tool is produced in a fun way. The poster introduces the child to the 6 SuperPowers that they are going to need. The six credit card size pocket cards are printed within minutes on the oncology ward, if a card printer is in place, or arrive by post within 24hrs if not.
Parents and medical staff can use the cards and the idea of the child’s SuperPowers to help move the child into a ‘treatment friendly frame of mind’. Medical staff will already be very familiar with the need to help a child to be treatment friendly before inserting needles etc. Dex’s Heroes we hope will make it very much easier for them.
The benefit to parents is that they, who will inevitably be in a state of shock, will immediately have something to do that is positive and proactive. Dexter’s mum in her letter to parents says that parents mustn’t crumble! They have to become the most ‘bad-ass parents ever’. Dex’s Heroes will give parents an immediate framework for helping their child in this extraordinary situation.
To enhance the effectiveness the child’s own eyes and mouth can be added to the superhero’s mask making it even more personal.
And as a bonus illustrators from across the world have offered their services to professionally enhance the posters. Enlarged and framed they will be ready to hang on bedroom walls to help bolster the superhero message on a daily basis.
The 6 Areas
Hover over each area to see the Scratchy Gang members who will be appearing in our story books,
Each Gang member has their own ‘Power’card for each Gang member on one side and the superhero figure they created on the other.
They choose one to hold when they need to feel strong.
1. Freezer
Keeping Still… while medical staff do their work. Like freezing a pose while robot dancing.
2. Robot
Equipment Friendly… being comfortable around everything from small needles to large x-ray machines.
3. Explorer
Enquiring Mind… the willingness to explore new rooms instead of being scared of what’s inside.
4. Brave
Being Brave… realising they are heroes even when they lose their hair.
5. Funny
Being Happy… having fun and not being bored in between treatment or waiting for tests results.
6. Mender
Being Positive… being positive and knowing their bodies can heal is medically powerful.
Dex’s Heroes is a reflection of what happens in real life. Whether outsiders, parents or part of medical teams are we not all in complete awe of the way children handle the devestating challenges of cancer and
other life threatening illnesses?
We can’t find words better than calling them ‘SuperHeroes’
Dex’s Heroes is a reflection of life. Whether outsiders, parents or part of medical teams are we not all in complete awe of the way children handle the devastating challenges of cancer and
other life threatening illnesses?
We can’t find words better than calling them ‘SuperHeroes’