It's a program that helps children facing serious health battles track their progress and celebrate their bravery.

The Bravery Hearts program was launched last April at the Helen DeVos Children's Hospital in Grand Rapids and has since become a very popular tool for medical staff to help young patients and their families.

Five-year-old Landon Dunbar of Manistee looks forward to receiving a new bravery bead every time he visits the hospital for his weekly Chemo-Therapy treatments.  Landon suffers from a genetic disorder called Neurofibromatosis.  He was diagnosed four years ago, and his mom, Lyndsay, says the bravery beads are a real symbol for how Landon has dealt with his disorder. "From the Chemo, he gets sick once in a while," Lyndsay says, "but other than that he seems to be doing pretty well."  Landon knows the importance of his bravery beads. "These are for being brave", Landon states proudly. "I get poked and then I get a surprise."

The Bravery Beads program was started at Helen DeVos Children's Hospital to help children and their families deal with hospital procedures.  Child Life Specialist, Shauna Boughey knows firsthand just how important the program has become to young patients. "The program is really great for kids looking back on what they've already done", explains Shauna. "So when you say we still have this portion of your treatment left they can look back and say 'wow look at what I've already done and look how great I've been.'"

The special necklaces are also a way for parents and their children to understand the journey they are enduring. "I think it gives kids strength and I think it allows them to really realize how courageous and how brave they've been," says Shauna.  A bead is handed out to patient for each procedure, from IV starts to blood transfusions.

The Bravery Beads program is funded through sales of Bravery Heart necklaces, which can be purchased online by anyone who wants to support the program.