Omaha Educator Authored Book on Cancer Journey
An Omaha teacher wrote a children's book to help preschoolers understand her metastatic breast cancer diagnosis.
Updated on Oct. 14, 2026 in Cancer
Omaha educator Andrea Foster has published a new children's book inspired by her personal experience with metastatic breast cancer. The project aims to help young children navigate complex topics and understand the physical changes associated with her treatment.
Why it matters
The book serves as a tool for educators and parents to encourage healthy curiosity in children while addressing challenging life events. By sharing her journey, Foster provides a framework for students to process difficult information with empathy and understanding.
Andrea Foster worked with preschool students aged 3 to 5 years old. The educator's history includes an initial breast cancer diagnosis in 2015, a recurrence in 2019, and a metastatic breast cancer diagnosis in March 2024.
The players
Andrea Foster
Andrea Foster is an Omaha educator who authored a children's book to explain her health journey to her students.
The details
The book was written in response to questions from Foster's students regarding her hair loss during cancer treatments. Illustrations within the book incorporate faces of Foster's own children to provide a personal connection to the story.
Timeline
Foster received her first breast cancer diagnosis in 2015.
The cancer returned in 2019.
Foster was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer in March 2024.
The Big Picture
The story follows the documented trend of using bibliotherapy to help children cope with adult illness. This approach highlights how educators integrate personal experiences into classroom resources to bridge communication gaps regarding complex medical topics.
This story offers parents and educators a practical resource to explain health challenges to young children in a compassionate manner. It demonstrates how community members can convert personal health struggles into educational tools for the benefit of local families.
The takeaway
Authors who share their medical experiences through children's literature can effectively turn personal hardship into a source of community support. Caregivers may consider using similar books to help young children feel comfortable asking questions about health and illness.
Further reading
For more information on patient experiences and resources, visit the Omaha Cancer section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by KMTV 3 News Now Omaha.
