Her Mum Dreamed of Storybooks — Now Rachael’s Writing Them to Save Lives with a Cute Dog at the Centre
By Jill Dando News
Maya the Defib Dog: The Heart-Saving Pup at the Centre of a Daughter’s Mission to Honour what Her Mum has always wanted to achieve.
“Bringing Stories to Life — One Paw at a Time”
At just 30 years old, Bristol Imaging Support Worker, at Southmead Hospital - North Bristol NHS Trust, Rachael has found her life’s mission — and it all begins with a big-hearted Sheepadoodle named Maya.
She’s launched her first children’s book series, Maya’s Adventures, combining vital life-saving education with heartwarming storytelling.
But behind the colourful pages is a deeply personal journey — one of love, loss, and legacy. Rachael’s mum has spent 35+ years caring for children as a nursery worker. Her quiet dream? To one day become a children’s book illustrator.
Now, as she faces a difficult Journey of cancer, that dream is being fulfilled — not by her, but through her daughter.
“My mum always dreamed of creating books for children,” Rachael says.“Now I get to honour that dream — and maybe even help save lives in the process.”
Having trained and worked on the NHS frontline, Rachael knows how crucial early intervention is in emergencies. So she’s taken her medical experience and turned it into stories children can understand — and remember.
Each book stars Maya the Defib Dog, a loyal 4-year-old Sheepadoodle from Donate For Defib W-s-M Project and now the official mascot of the Donate For Defib campaign in Weston-super-Mare.
The stories don’t just entertain — they teach children as young as nursery age how to recognise emergencies, understand CPR, and use defibrillators.
All through playful storytelling and gentle, uplifting illustrations.
So far, Rachael has written five titles in the series, with names like Maya and Graham learn about the Heart and Maya and the Emergency Services— books that combine education with humour, safety with story, and compassion with confidence.
The wider initiative, Donate For Defib W-s-M, is led by award-winning charity advocate Josh Bell, whose life was saved after cardiac surgery. Together, he and Rachael are working with schools, MPs, medical experts, and air ambulance charities to install defibrillators, bleed kits, and teach emergency response across the South West.
“Maya is more than a mascot,” says Josh.“She’s a movement — a pawprint of hope in communities across the UK.”
Their efforts have already been recognised by the High Sheriff of Somerset, local MP Daniel Aldridge, and the BBC Make a Difference Awards, where they’re finalists in the Community category.
For Rachael, this is just the start.
“I want to spend the rest of my life writing books that help children — not just to learn, but to live,” she says.“If one child saves a life because of something Maya taught them, or even help fall in love with a Future career even more help children not be so nervous around emergency situations, it will all have been worth it.”
“This is for my mum,” she adds. “It started with her dream to inspire children and help people. Now, it’s my life’s mission.”
Rachel is now seeking a publisher to help bring this important and empowering book to a wider audience.
Her goal is to ensure that children everywhere—starting from a very young age—can learn how to respond confidently and calmly in medical emergencies.
If you are a publisher or know someone who shares Rachel’s passion for children’s education and safety, please reach out and help make this vital resource available to families and educators around the world.
To support Maya’s Adventures and help expand education for children across the UK, along with other important life aspects including showing different career paths including Electrician's, Fire Service, Police and many more to shape future career aspirations visit:👉 www.goodnewspost.co.uk
To find out more please visit the Facebook Page: Maya's Tails Illustrations
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