ZOARVILLE, Ohio — When a little heart holds big feelings of grief it helps to have something to hold onto.
Brady Martin knows this is true.
“The battle pups started on this rainy day when I didn't want to go to the hospital,” said 11-year-old Brady Martin.
When he was, 9 he was diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia.
“We knew it was going to be extremely difficult and a really long road but we didn't quite know what we were in for,” said Kristin Martin, Brady’s mom.
Brady found solace in giving stuffed animals to others in the hospital.
“It made me really excited because we got to take our eyes off our own suffering and focus on someone else,” he explained.
As he went through treatment, the one thing Brady and his family focused on was being the light for someone else.
“We can always choose to go and be the joy in someone else's life,” Kristin said.
It started with one stuffed animal, then another. Eventually, word got out -- and they received donations to keep going.
“The outpouring of love and support that we got was just incredible that we've just kept going and we just kept growing,” Kristin said.
And that's how Brady's Battle Pups got started.
“On their collars, it says ‘armed with strength,’” explained Kristin. “That way anybody who holds them knows that they too have been armed with strength for whatever battle they are facing.”
In two years, thanks to an army of volunteers, they've created quite the operation. They pack up the pups -- and ship them out to anyone who needs support. They reach people across the country -- and the world. In hospitals, nursing homes, and schools.
So far they've delivered 20,000 pups.
“We have been given this incredible opportunity to impact lives in this way,” Kristin said.
This week, there was a delivery the Martin family will remember always.
“When the bus accident happened it was minutes and my phone was constantly buzzing,” said Kristin.
Brady's mom Kristin was heartbroken to learn the news of the deadly crash on I-70, involving students from Tuscarawas Valley Local Schools.
“We've got to get battle pups to this school,” she said.
By Wednesday night -- members of Canal Winchester Band and Performing Arts volunteered their time packing up the pups.
Then Thursday morning, Kristin and a friend -- made the delivery in person. 2,000 pups. One for every student in the district.
“We also brought enough for every single employee, staff member, teacher, and first responder, and all of those people in your community will also get one as well because we know how large the ripple effect has been of this,” she said.
“There's been a lot of parents who have posted pictures of their kids sleeping with their battle pups so it is overwhelming to see people finding the love and encouragement and comfort that we hope come from the battle pups,” said Chris Martin, Brady’s dad.
“We want everyone to know they don't have to battle this alone that there's somebody with them,” Kristin said. “It all started with cancer. All of it started through the depths of our greatest pain.”
Through their pain -- they found comfort in providing joy for others.
And for the Martins -- Brady's journey is a positive one. He is now 11 months cancer free.
Recently, Kristin Martin published her very first book of the journal she wrote and kept through Brady’s cancer journey. 10% of every sale goes to fund more battle pups. You can find more information at www.waytobattle.com. That’s also where you can nominate warriors who need to know they are not alone. Every Battle Pup delivered to a school trauma or crisis costs $10. In total, over 3,500 have gone out in just the past ten days.