The Magic Light Inside Me

A story about the strength of sick children

Andrea Ramrez Pealoza

Illustrated by
Mechtilde Molin

Translation
Johnell DeWitt

Hi there!

Text: Andrea Ramrez Pealoza

Ilustrated by: Mechtilde Molin

Im Thomas. I was a
regular, everyday kid
just like you until I
found out that I had
magic inside me. Let
me tell you the story...

Translated by: Johnell DeWitt

Total or partial reproduction of this book is forbidden, by any means
without prior consent in writing by the author.
First Edition: Asuncion - Paraguay, March 2016
ISBN: 978-99967-0-146-7
This book is a non-profit project. Printed books in Spanish were given in
hospitals across Latin America. You can find free electronic versions in
Spanish and other languages on the authors website. You can also make a
donation to help these books continue to be distributed.
Visit www.andreaescritora.com to find other books from the author and to
communicate with her.
Original title: Nios hechiceros de luz

Last year I began

feeling really, really
bad and the doctor
told my mother that I
was sick.

I didnt understand what was

happening. I didnt like going to the
doctor so much. I especially didnt
know that being sick was going to
change my life.

Do you want to know how

I found

my magic?

Little by little, I got used to the place. I

enjoyed meeting the doctors, nurses, and
other children. Thats when I began to
discover that I had special powers.

When we first arrived at the

hospital, I was very scared. It was
full of strangers and I wanted to
go home. They poked me many
times and it made me very sad.
6

Before I found my powers, I would have

been afraid of her. But then I looked at
her and used my first superpower:
MY BIG SMILE.

One time, a nurse came into my room, and I didnt like the
expression on her face. It really scared me.

The scary nurse transformed immediately. Her face began to glow

and her eyes filled with tenderness and kindness. I had activated my
first magic power!
9

I soon learned that my second superpower was

MY INCREDIBLE STRENGTH. On the outside, I looked like
an ordinary child, but if you looked inside me, you would see
the fight going on inside my body.
Let me show you what I mean. Take a closer look under the
microscope:

My body, like yours, is made up of

millions of tiny cells. But some of
my cells went bad and stopped
playing nicely with the others.
They started to act like an
angry mob that wanted to
hurt me, so I had to fight
them.

The doctors
took blood
from my
arm, and this
is the battle
they saw.

10

This is what I
imagine angry
cells look like.

11

When the angry cells first

attacked, the healthy cells
were not prepared and many
were injured.

My
healthy
cells were
overwhelmed, but the
angry cells didnt care. They
kept calling in more friends and
created even more chaos in my
body.
12

The
doctors decided
to give me a special
treatment that would
give more weapons to my
healthy cells and help them
fight the battle.

13

The treatment they gave me was very

strong, so something happened that I
didnt really like. My hair began to fall out.
I was very worried and wanted to cry until
I understood what was happening.

14

My hair fell out because the cells

that hold the hairs in were lost in
the battle. When there were no
cells to hold my hair, it fell out.

Sometimes the cells that help grow

my hair get caught in the battle.
They become too weak to hold on
to my hair, so it just comes out.

in

la
p
x
ee
m
Let etter.
it b

15

Well, it doesnt really matter,

because when the battle is
over, the hair cells will go
back to their post, and my
hair will grow back. So, in
the meantime, I just use my
wizards hat.

Sometimes the treatment is very

painful, and I dont feel very
well. I want to cry.

r
I prefe t.
ha
y
r
i
a
f
a
Then I remember that Im
strong inside and that Ill
move forward. That makes
me feel better.

16

17

There are some things I really dont like, such as not being able to
eat whatever I want, but unhealthy food feeds the angry guys and
makes them stronger.

I dont like to have to wear a mask

either, but wearing a mask prevents
me from breathing in bad germs.

STOP

So, I need to give my

healthy cells the best food
to continue fighting.
18

I like to imagine that its a disguise,

and I draw funny faces on them.
19

My third superpower is a
POWERFUL LAUGH.
Its not like the powers of
superheroes because I can
share it with others.

You know what? I love laughing.

It makes me happy, and helps me
feel stronger than the angry cells
and germs.

My laugh is contagious.
Usually when I start to
laugh, those around me
cant help but laugh too. So
Im learning to laugh more,
because I know the effect it
has on others.

20

21

Ive also learned that you

have to live fully in the
moment and be happy
now.

22

Now I enjoy everything I do a lot more. I appreciate

the wonder of every little detail, like when I
read a book or play with my brother. But most
especially, when Im in my mothers arms.

23

The most important thing Ive discovered is

MY INNER LIGHT that is more powerful than all the
medicine in the world. This light is bright and strong and is
what makes me able to win my daily battle.

RONG
T
S
M
I

That light is my power source.

Its what gives energy to my
treatment and helps me defeat
the bad guys.

BAD
OUT
T
E
G
S
GUY

24

25

MY LIGHT SHINES UPON

ALL THOSE WHO ARE
CLOSE TO ME, and knowing
that I have that inner light
makes me happy too.

26

27

You know what? YOU ALSO HAVE

THAT LIGHT WITHIN YOU. So
join my team!

28

We are fighters. We are walking miracles. Our great

power is to TRANSFORM THE HEARTS OF
PEOPLE AROUND US.

29

We are messengers of
LIGHT AND LOVE!

ANDREA RAMIREZ PENALOZA was born

in Colombia on July 19, 1979. She studied
international relations in Bogota, Colombia
and earned a masters degree from KDI School
in Seoul, Korea and a second masters from
Toulouse University in France. She was a
transport specialist for several years in Paris,
France and Washington D.C., until she found
Reiki which completely changed her life. Now
she is a Reiki Master, with a holistic medicine
practice and directs the Mujeres Radiantes
project. Besides being a writer, she is a wife and
a mother of two.
You can visit her website at:
www.andreaescritora.com

MECHTILDE MOLIN was born in France on

May 26, 1971. She is a professor of fine arts
and has a bachelors in French. She is an artist,
painter and teacher, and currently teaches
painting and drawing to children in Asuncion,
Paraguay in her Atelier dArt. She is a wife and a
mother of four.

30

THE MAGIC LIGHT INSIDE ME is a story about

Thomas, a child with cancer, and the strength
he discovers in himself. Harsh issues, such as
chemotherapy, hair loss, etc. are addressed in
a child-friendly manner. While this story was
written for children with cancer in mind,
it can help any child who might be
struggling with a difficult illness or
situation. The storys main objective is
to help children, families and medical staff
see the illness as a challenge that can be
overcome. My wish is to leave a message of
hope and strength with those who are facing
this life challenge.
This book is a non-profit project, you can
request a free electronic copy at the
authors page. If you want to contribute
to the distribution of these books,
in Spanish, at hospitals across Latin
America, you can make a donation
here: www.andreaescritora.com

ISBN 9789996701467

9 789996 701467