Our Story

Every child has a story worth telling

Our mission is to empower and celebrate children who are facing life-threatening illnesses by telling and publishing their stories.

Browse the books Become a Book Buddy

Books That Heal books standing on a wooden table

Since 2014, one book at a time

Since 2014, Books That Heal has helped children undergoing treatment write and illustrate their own books and become published authors.

Their story, their way

Love to draw? Great. If not, we hire a professional illustrator.

No deadlines, ever

We work around each family's schedule.

A real book signing

Authors sign copies for their fans, raising awareness and funds.

Free, and giving back

We cover every cost, and royalties support causes families choose: over $100,000 so far.

At Books That Heal, we help publish stories that deserve to be told.
Join us in building a community of support for the children, one book at a time.

Meet our founder

Michael Flatley

Michael Flatley is the Founder and President of Books That Heal. Inspired by his sister's career as a Child Life Specialist, Michael created the organization in 2014 while pursuing a Master's degree at Fordham University and taking a course on Social Entrepreneurship. He has also served on the board of a New York-based nonprofit committed to finding a cure for Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG).

Michael has nearly 20 years of experience in wealth management. He launched Flatley Private Wealth and is a pioneer in bringing AI into traditional wealth management. He was previously a Senior Equity Portfolio Manager on a $1 billion advisory team at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, and before that managed $3 billion in client wealth at Deutsche Bank, where he was selected for the firm's REAL Program.

Michael lives in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, with his wife, their daughter, and their toy poodle.

Leadership

Board members and advisors

Dr. Stephen DeMeo

Board Member

Dr. Stephen DeMeo is a Neonatologist at WakeMed Hospitals in Raleigh, NC who specializes in the care of premature and critically ill newborns. Prior to his neonatology training at Duke University Hospital, he completed his residency in pediatrics at the AI DuPont Hospital for Children in Wilmington, DE. Dr. DeMeo serves Books That Heal because he has witnessed the enormous effects that patient empowerment can have on patient and family healing. He also serves on the board of the March of Dimes for Eastern North Carolina.

Dr. Sam Nia

Chief Medical Officer, Board of Advisors

Dr. Sam Nia is a dual board-certified anesthesiologist and interventional pain physician. He received a Bachelor of Science, Magna Cum Laude, from Binghamton University and his Doctorate from New York Medical College, where he received the Trustees Scholarship. He completed residency in Anesthesiology at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School and fellowships at Thomas Jefferson Hospital, Mount Sinai Beth Israel, and Boston Children's Hospital in pediatric regional anesthesia and pain medicine. His experience in pain management and his entrepreneurial spirit have helped shape the organization since its earliest days.

Donna Marques

Board Member

Donna Marques first became involved with Books That Heal when her daughter Emma became the first child to publish a book with us, Emma the Brave. Emma lost her battle with DIPG at the age of 6 in 2016. Donna brings a parent's perspective to the foundation and collaborates with families. She comes from an international business development background and is a business development manager for Coca-Cola Beverages of Florida. Donna is also involved in the Children's Brain Tumor Project and The All In To Win Foundation, and continues to collaborate with oncologists on research for DIPG.

Shannon DeMeo

Board Secretary

Shannon DeMeo received a Bachelor of Arts in Studio Art from Drew University and a Master's in Art Therapy and Counseling from the College of New Rochelle, completing a Child Life internship at Tomorrow's Children's Institute at Hackensack University Medical Center. She has worked as a Child Life Specialist at St. Christopher's Hospital and Jefferson Hospital in Philadelphia and at Newark Beth Israel in Newark, NJ, where she worked closely with The Valerie Fund.

Dr. Michael Pirson

Board Member

Michael Pirson is an associate professor of management systems who teaches social entrepreneurship and principles of management. A native of Germany, he has lived and worked in Switzerland, France, China, Costa Rica, and the United States. He is a founding partner of the Humanistic Management Association, editor-in-chief of the Humanistic Management Journal, a research fellow at Harvard University, and serves on the boards of three social enterprises.