EMU Today

YPSILANTI — When Eastern Michigan University communications and social work senior La’Shardae Scott needed a children’s book about Sickle Cell Anemia to help her four-year-old son Eric understand what his affected brothers went through living with the disease, she had to write it herself.

Through the collaborative efforts of Scott and fine arts senior Sara Luckhardt, the two produced the illustrated picture book “What Dr. Shurney Taught Me,” told from the point of view of Scott’s younger son, Emory.  

Scott, a Detroit native, envisions the audience of the book as all people with an interest in Sickle Cell Anemia, not just children who need help understanding the disease.

“Sickle Cell is sometimes thought to be a primarily black disease, but that’s not true—anyone can be affected,” said Scott, speaking from her experience as a recently hired Sickle Director and Newborn Screening Coordinator for northwest Ohio, where she works with people from all backgrounds who suffer from the disease.

The catalyst for the creation of the story was questions from her oldest son, Eric, who was born unaffected. His two younger brothers experienced the full symptoms of Sickle Cell, requiring some lifestyle modification and frequent hospital visits. Through the picture book, Eric was able to better understand his siblings’ situation.

“If he understood, then I knew other people could benefit from the book as a resource, too,” Scott said.

When it came time to find an illustrator for her story, Scott contacted the EMU Art Department and put out an ad for a student illustrator. After having received ten responses, she ultimately decided upon Sara Luckhardt.

“I was eager to be a part of a project that could help so many children and their families,” Luckhardt said. “I was astounded that there wasn't already a good children's book available that dealt with Sickle Cell Anemia, especially since there were so many children suffering from the disease.

“Putting (Sickle Cell) experiences in a story takes the child out of the stress of their reality, and lets them learn through the eyes of another. I thought this was a much more effective method of delivering important health information to the child. And I knew if I made the illustrations interesting and engaging enough, kids would want to read it again and again, furthering the absorption of the material.” 

Luckhardt worked from photographs and images sent by Scott. Without ever meeting Emory, the little boy featured in the book, Luckhardt used her artistic prowess to compile the images. She and Scott discussed rough compositions of the illustrations in person, but ultimately, Luckhardt was given much freedom and artistic liberty in creating her illustrations.

“This was a very fulfilling experience for me, and I can't thank La'Shardae and her husband enough for the opportunity to be involved in their project,” Luckhardt said. “The most rewarding part of all this for me is seeing the pictures La'Shardae is posting of children with the book. After a year, I finally feel like the book is in the hands of the kids I made it for.”

In addition to the illustrations of “What Dr. Shurney Taught Me,” Luckhardt’s artwork has been featured in Eastern Michigan University’s Cellar Roots student publication, and in the advertisements of numerous student organizations.  

The book is available online, both on Amazon and through the Scott family’s personal website.

About Eastern Michigan University

Founded in 1849, Eastern is the second oldest public university in Michigan. It currently serves 20,000 students pursuing undergraduate, graduate, specialist, doctoral and certificate degrees in the arts, sciences and professions. In all, more than 300 majors, minors and concentrations are delivered through the University's Colleges of Arts and Sciences; Business; Education; Health and Human Services; Technology, and its graduate school. EMU is regularly recognized by national publications for its excellence, diversity, and commitment to applied education. For more information about Eastern Michigan University, visit the University's website.