Brave Bracelets

Several years ago, Sara Haberlein, APNP, and the medical provider team were talking about research opportunities and goals they wanted to focus on for the next year. After this discussion, Sara jotted her idea on a post-it note and it sat on her desk for the next five years.

“Your brave is bigger than you think.”

Something in Sara wanted to let kids know that what they did at the Child Advocacy Center (CAC) was amazing and courageous. It’s hard to come to the CAC after facing trauma associated with child abuse and it’s not over when kids leave our doors. Sara wanted to create a bracelet to remind them of how brave they are and have something to turn to and look at along their healing journey.

Sara and her team brought the idea to Children’s Wisconsin Foundation who then partnered with Kesslers Diamonds to make Sara’s dream of the Brave Bracelet come true. Brave Bracelets are now provided to kids at all seven Children’s Wisconsin CACs to serve as a reminder that they are brave and supported.

One of the children Sara saw recently was hiding behind the table in the exam room and kept saying, “I’m scared, I’m scared.” After the medical evaluation, Sara told the child, “You know, I have just the right thing to help you.”

She brought him a simple bracelet with the words: “You are Brave” engraved on a silver pendant strung on a thin, black band. She told him, “This is what you can use when you’re feeling scared. You’ve gotten through everything today, it was really hard, and you did so good. You’re brave, and this is going to help you remember that. Anytime you’re feeling scared, you look down at your wrist, see your bracelet, and know you can do this.”