In this series of comics about health conditions and illnesses, the 'Medikidz' are a team of five superheroes who live in an alternative planet called 'Mediland', a place which is shaped like the human body. The team is made up of Axon, the brain specialist (and his pet robot Abacus, the brain on legs), Chi, the lung specialist, Skinderella, who knows all about skin and bones, Pump, the heart and blood expert, and Gastro, the expert on the digestive system (who is the joker and fart specialist!). The series is aimed precisely at kids, and the information therein is given in language that is easily understood; not only that, but because of the highly-coloured comic format, children will want to read it. The books are clever and funny and put lots of excellent, detailed information into an accessible read. Furthermore, the medical information, written by doctors, is peer reviewed by experts in the field.
Richard is into drama in a big way, but rehearsing for 'Hamlet' is too hard when his leukaemia makes him tired and un-focused. The Medikidz take him off to Mediland where he learns about blood and what his illness really means. He enjoys a visit to the blood stream, meeting the 'defenders, transporters and fix-it guys', otherwise known as white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets. (And because Richard is an actor, he and the Medikidz often sing their information to well-known tunes!) After learning about blood, Richard is taken to the Bone Marrow School, where he sees the blood cells (stem cells) being born and growing up to learn their various trades; and we learn that when the 'magic seeds' that make white blood cells (the defenders) start growing abnormally, they become weeds that are useless. These then take over. Some technical terms are explained in easily understood ways: neutropenia, anemia, thrombocytopenia, lymphocytes, myelocytes. Richard (and we) learn the difference between acute and chronic leukaemia and also all about blood and bone marrow tests. Then we learn about chemotherapy, how it works and possible side effects - no punches pulled here - but Richard is positive. Hickman lines, steroids, blood transfusions, radiotherapy and bone marrow transplants are all mentioned but not gone into in detail. A final song by the boys and another from the girls rounds up the information nicely, and two years later we see Richard on stage once again. The zany theatricality of this approach to leukaemia suits the comic style nicely.
Available from the publisher at www.medikidz.com/shop. The basic web site at www.medikidz.com has lots more health information for children, as well as titles of many more comics in the series in a wide range of health and disability areas. Well worth a look.