CINCINNATI — John Otten, the founder of Brave Like Me, said when you are in the hospital for multiple weeks, you forget your days and weeks and miss your friends and family. The family member who too often can’t visit but is hugely missed is the pet left at home.

What You Need To Know

  • Brave Like Me is a charitable foundation honoring Brayden Otten who lived bravely for 13-years with a chronic heart condition

  • The Foundation created a Mobile Family Pet Reunion Center that travels to children’s hospitals across the country reuniting sick children with their pets

  • The Foundation sponsors adventurous activities for children with chronic illness to give children “moments of uninhibited joy”

According to Otten, only two pediatric hospitals in the country—including Cincinnati Children’s—offer a place inside the hospital where family pets can come to visit their sick child. For Otten, whose son Brayden lived for thirteen years with a chronic heart condition, visits with his dog meant the world to him.

“It was the most incredible experience,” Otten said.

Seeing his son and dog reunited brought joy during a time of immense pain and uncertainty.

After Brayden passed away, the family knew they wanted to honor their son by recognizing the many ways in which he showed courage; Brave Like Me is a charitable foundation created to offer chronically ill children opportunities to be brave through “moments of uninhibited joy.”

Too often children with complex medical conditions and disabilities are isolated from adventure. The Ottens want to change that, through the program “Brave Friends,” kids can enjoy indoor rock climbing, high-ropes courses, go-karting, horseback riding and even indoor skydiving, with a friend.

Inspired by Brayden’s love for reading, Brave Books donates a “specially-curated collection of books (which) offers lessons in integrity, perseverance, curiosity, courage and being brave,” to area schools and non-profits.

And then there’s the Mobile Family Pet Reunion Center, a state-of-the-art unit that Otten takes on the road, visiting children’s hospitals across the country to encourage visits between medically compromised patients and their family pets.

Inside the mobile unit is what Otten calls the “magic window;” a large screen through which children can visit their classrooms or home.

“I know Brayden missed his room,” said Otten, after spending weeks in the hospital

“We are going to bring this to some kids and it’s going to be amazing,” he said.

To learn more or to get involved, visit Brave Like Me Foundation.

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