FROM DREAM TO REALITY. Pey Carter and her daughter Abigail have reached their Kickstarter goal for their picture book, Bendy Bones and Stretchy Skin. (Illustrations by Katarina Stevanović as seen in the book)

You may remember local author Pey Carter and her daughter Abigail’s quest to publish their picture book, titled Bendy Bones and Stretchy Skin, about Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) that kicked off back in March. Thanks to their passion and kindness from those who came across their Kickstarter campaign to fund the project, the duo reached their $5,500 goal on July 12.

There is still time to support the project, as the Kickstarter is still accepting donations and book orders through July 31, when the campaign ends. If you want to support the project without buying the book, you can purchase ally shirts that say "The Future is Accessible" and "Make Pride Accessible," sticker sheets, a coloring book, or a custom watercolor portrait by the book’s illustrator, Katarina Stevanović.

Pey and Abigail.

Extra funds gained through Kickstarted will go towards their stretch goal of creating an audiobook and American Sign Language (ASL) video to make Bendy Bones and Stretchy Skin available to all. They are also accepting sponsors that will be showcased on the acknowledgments page.

Now that the publishing goal has been met, Pey and Abigail will be working with Wise Ink Creative Publishing Inc., a minority-owned publishing agency based in Minneapolis. After the July 31 purchasing deadline, the book is slated to be available through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other stores in September of this year.

Bendy Bones and Stretchy Skin follows Abigail’s journey with EDS and how her classmates learn about her invisible illness. Pey and Abigail wanted to create a book that spread awareness about EDS as well as other disabilities that folks might not be able to see in others. You can read more about the book's beginnings in the Volume One article written in March.

“(The book) is based on (Abigail’s) experiences getting diagnosed and navigating elementary school with accommodations when she doesn't look ‘sick’ or ‘disabled,’” Pey said. “Seeing her blossom into an advocate, not just for herself but for other people, has been a privilege. She is showing kids that their experiences and stories matter. Her generation will be game changers, making the world a better place for everyone.”

You can support Pey and Abigail’s Kickstarter at kickstarter.com and learn more about Pey’s work at peycarter.com.