Suzy goes to the doctor with her parents and is told that she has cancer. She starts to worry and is very scared and doesn’t understand. Great Katie Kate, a superhero type figure suddenly appears, coming to her rescue to teach her about cancer, treatments, and realities of a cancer diagnosis. She also helps her face the Worry Wombat, a large furry critter who was sad and worried just like Suzy, and causes Suzy to be worried too. Suzy, the Great Katie Kate, and the Worry Wombat go on a magical journey throughout the hospital exploring and learning about everything from blood work, x-rays, chemotherapy, radiation, side effects, hair loss, surgery, and hospital stays. The more questions Suzy asks, the more she understands. The more she understands, the more she relaxes and even smiles! Eventually her Worry Wombat disappears.

Overwhelmed parents often have trouble communicating effectively with children and it can be a struggle for parents to talk at all with their child about cancer because of apprehension, denial, or just being unsure of what to say. The author of this children’s book is an oncologist who wrote the book to answer the most common questions asked by children with a positive and open attitude. Reading this book with a child is great way to help them conquer their Worry Wombat by help them face challenge of dealing with cancer with new confidence from understanding and lessened anxiety. Children who read the book identify with Suzy, which helps to normalize the fear, worries, and questions that the child is most likely experiencing. The book also answers questions that we may not have thought to explain to children and does so in a positive way and a way that a child can understand.