F.R.O.G. Stories Inc.
When I met Doris and Bob Davis, I quickly felt at ease with them. I saw two individuals who love life and family and who especially love their five grandchildren. They have a strong love for each other and for God. After interviewing them and hearing about the development of their business, I felt a strong desire to share their story.
To begin a business, many people see a need and then try to invent a product or a service. In June of 2004, Doris encountered a devastating, life-changing event, as she was diagnosed with cancer. While trying to digest this news, she began looking for resources on a child’s level to explain cancer to her grandchildren. A Masters Degree in education, combined with the experience of teaching first grade provided Doris many opportunities to extend her love for children.
Doris credits regular check-ups for saving her life. During her recovery and radiation treatments, she took notes and began a story to her grandchildren. Her son, gifted with artistic ability, provided the illustrations.
Doris was led to explain cancer using the character of a frog. She explained that if a frog could speak, he would say he has lumps and bumps which is fine, because that’s the way God made him. Doris, known as Grandma Dee Dee, is made the way God wants her to be, but is not supposed to have lumps and bumps. During vacation three years later, Doris shared the story with a cancer center in Florida. The response was so encouraging they shared the book with several cancer centers from Florida to Indiana. The responses were so positive the desire to meet this need resulted in a business adventure that now reaches from coast to coast and from Florida to Michigan.
What began as a business became a ministry. As feedback came from those purchasing the books, the Davis’s realized they could not profit from the misfortune of others. The decision was made to give twenty percent of all sales to cancer research and programs to help children in crisis.
In less than two years and a total advertising expense of less than two thousand dollars, the books have found their way into the homes of families across the nation. They have become a valuable resource for helping families with children and grandchildren.
“Communicating Your Cancer to Children” and “Helping Children Through Grief” are the first in a series that carries the message of God’s presence to the reader. The third book in the series, “The Death of Grandpa Frog”, resulted from requests by funeral homes for a frog book to help children during visitation. The books are now in cancer centers, schools, churches, funeral homes and the homes of individuals experiencing the need for them. Ninety percent of all sales are to those planning to give the books to someone facing a crisis.
The books come with crayons and encourage children to ask questions to relieve their minds of the burden of the unknown. If you are facing the need or know others who are, we invite you to order by phone (812) 283 1937. E-mail FROGSTORIES@ATT.NET. The books are also available on line at WWW.FROGSTORIESINC.NET
