Special Books by Special Kids

A few days ago I shared Sun's interview. He is diagnosed with Hunter syndrome and has regressed to the point he can no longer walk or talk at just seven years old. As I sat beside him and talked with a positive tone, Sun reached out to hold my hand and then kissed my hand. This was a great reminder to me that everyone is deserving of a friend, and a person that may not seem communicative outwardly can still have an enriched internal world and desire human connection. Simply put, just be kind to everyone.

1 day ago | [YT] | 19,644

Special Books by Special Kids

Yesterday I published Joe's interview. Joe survived a car accident that left him with 80% burns all over his body. Soon after, he was the first successful face and double hand transplant recipient in human history. He then met Jess, fell in love, and eventually got married.


We recently celebrated SBSK's 10 year anniversary on YouTube, so Joe's video is one of our first after entering SBSK's 11th year. Alyssa and I were debating if the last decade has gone by fast or slow. To me, it has went by at lightning speed. I'm only reminded that a decade has passed when I look in the mirror and see how much grey my beard has accumulated! Thanks for your love and support of each person featured on SBSK as we enter our 11th year on this platform.

1 week ago | [YT] | 23,596

Special Books by Special Kids

Yesterday marked exactly 10 years since the very first SBSK interview was published on YouTube.


We’re incredibly grateful for the friendships, memories, and lessons this journey has brought us. It’s been the experience of a lifetime, and we wouldn’t trade it for anything. We uploaded a special video yesterday, sharing more of our thoughts on this milestone. There’s no way to fully express our gratitude in a single post, but from the bottom of our hearts: thank you for being part of this community. We look forward to the next ten years!

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3 weeks ago | [YT] | 28,658

Special Books by Special Kids

Yesterday, I shared Triston's interview.

After a traumatic childhood in foster care, Triston attempted to end his life in 2023. Doctors gave him a 1 in 500 million chance of survival, but he defied the odds. Two months later, he woke from a coma, blind, without a nose or ability to smell, and with bones from his legs used to reconstruct his jaw. Upon waking up, Triston struggled through a year of physical and emotional pain. But slowly, he began focusing on his recovery. Today, Triston is teaching himself to navigate the world with a cane, finding joy in small moments like feeling the sun on his face and listening to the birds.

Since his attempt, Triston has not had access to therapy for his mental health or a mobility specialist that could teach him how to navigate while blind. In just 18 hours since his interview was published, our community raised over $11,000 to provide Triston with these services. Thank you for providing Triston with the love and support he deserves.

1 month ago (edited) | [YT] | 32,289

Special Books by Special Kids

I have two uplifting updates about recent SBSK interviews. The first is about Lynnon and Dillon. Lynnon is a child with a terminal diagnosis and Dillon is her single father. After their interview, our community raised $40,000 for the two to purchase a car. Lynnon and Dillon now have a car that can fit all of her medical equipment for the first time ever. This allows them to travel and make memories while they still have time together.

The second update is about Lincoln, whose interview was published in January. Lincoln lives with near total paralysis and in his interview I asked, "If you had one wish what would it be?" He responded "a shower that I can fit into!" I learned that Lincoln used a very tight-fitting shower to bathe (picture 2), made even more congested because he requires caregivers and medical equipment. Our community raised $33,000 for Lincoln and he recently had an accessible shower installed (picture 3)!

Thank you to everyone for your kindness and support of those featured on SBSK. You are improving lives and showing that love, compassion, and empathy are still alive and strong.

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1 month ago | [YT] | 50,575

Special Books by Special Kids

Yesterday I shared Lynnon and Dillon's story. This photo was taken immediately after we concluded the interview.

Lynnon has a rare genetic condition caused by a mutation in her CRELD1 gene, a disorder with a typical life expectancy of just 2 years. Lynnon is already 2 and a half, enduring constant pain and frequent hospital stays. Her devoted single father, Dillon, has made the heart-wrenching decision to sign a Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order for his daughter. While he isn't ready to say goodbye, Dillon shares that he wants Lynnon to have peace and rest when the time comes.

Dillon shared before the interview that it is his fear that Lynnon would pass away and nobody would ever know she existed. Thank you to everyone who left kind and loving comments for Dillon and Lynnon. I know that it means the world to them.

2 months ago | [YT] | 41,675

Special Books by Special Kids

Yesterday, I shared an interview with Brody. He is one of only 25 people ever to be diagnosed with Van Maldergem syndrome. As a result, he is DeafBlind and intellectually disabled. He was not expected to survive birth, but is now 15 years old. I wanted to share this photo we took after the interview. We were smiling and enjoying our time together. Thanks for your continued support and kindness to those who are featured on SBSK!

2 months ago | [YT] | 27,270

Special Books by Special Kids

Yesterday, I published an update interview with Daniel, who is diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder.. When we first met in 2019 he told me that he thought he would never be happy again. I returned 5.5 years later to see if Daniel had managed to experience any joy in his life with mental health struggles. It was a joy sitting with Daniel again. We have grown quite close over the years and I think that's probably evident to anyone who watches this update. The first picture in this post is us recently after 5.5 years of friendship and the second photo is when we first met in 2019.

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2 months ago | [YT] | 25,506

Special Books by Special Kids

Yesterday I shared the first video on SBSK that was 4k quality. Since starting this channel in 2015, I primarily concentrated on the social and educational aspect of these interviews. This year, I am focused on improving the technical side of our channel as well. Over the coming months you will see a combination of videos on our channel that are 4k, as well as standard HD videos that were filmed prior to this upgrade. By the end of this year, all our videos released will be of 4k quality. Thank you for supporting us over the years. When this all started about a decade ago, I was a teacher with no background in filming or interviewing. It has been such a joy learning these skills alongside you. Thanks for being patient with me! I am excited to bring you higher quality video while still remembering what makes SBSK unique; amazing interviewees and a community that truly cares about each person featured on this channel.


Side note: This picture was taken at the end of our recent 2-week trip where we filmed many interviews for SBSK. It was Gizmo’s first trip, and she did great. In this picture we were both pretty tired while waiting at the airport for our flight home.

2 months ago | [YT] | 17,809

Special Books by Special Kids

Yesterday I shared an update video with Zaid, who is a burn survivor. We first met in 2019 when he was 16-years-old. He is now 21. This update examined his mental and social growth. One of my favorite things about filming these videos is the close bonds I've been able to form with people around the world. It's such a gift. Thanks for being you, Zaid!

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2 months ago | [YT] | 92,734