What do you do when cancer treatments rob you of your hair and your appearance is questioned by your child who’s too young to grasp what’s going on? If you’re Ashley Tehensky, you write a children’s book.
Tehensky wrote and oversaw the illustrations for “Mommy the Brave Lion,” a 24-page book for children up to age 12. She’s the brave lion who developed cancer shortly after giving birth five years ago.
“I was inspired by my journey with my son and his navigating why I looked different,” said Tehensky, who lives with her husband, Mike, and son Michael James III in Perrysburg. The hope is that this will be inspiring in a loving and gentle way to explain why someone may look and feel different in the face of illness. It’s relatable to everybody and anybody.”
Her journey began on Sept. 4, 2020, when Michael James—who they’ve nicknamed Trip—was born. A few days after they got home—the Tehenskys were living in a Chicago suburb at the time—Tehensky noticed that the lymph nodes in her neck and jaw became enlarged.
After three weeks the swelling worsened, prompting the new mother to go to an Urgent Care site. Tests showed it wasn’t COVID-19 or any other contagious disease, but based on her white blood count, she was told to go to an emergency room.
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“I thought it was a mild infection,” Tehensky recalled, so she took just a couple personal items thinking she’d be away from home for only a few hours. “It turned out I was in the hospital for a month and a half.”
The CT scan in the ER revealed enlarged lymph nodes. “The largest was the size of a grapefruit through my chest cavity and throat, back of my head, and neck,” she said. “I was admitted immediately and received intensive chemotherapy treatment.” The diagnosis: acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), a cancer of the blood and bone marrow.
During her hospital stay she received a daily combination of pills and, intravenously, chemotherapy. She was released in early November, but returned to the hospital four to five days a week for more cancer treatment.
Adding to her concerns was how Tripp would respond to her, having not been home constantly and having lost her hair through chemo. “I told my pediatrician that I was nervous that he wouldn’t know who I was.” The pediatrician said while what she was going through was absolutely terrible, it was the best time for that to happen because Tripp was too young to understand what was happening, and the family and friends were there for support.
Her last chemo treatment was March, 2023. She returns every six months for checkups; so far all is well. “I feel really great. I work full-time. I’m involved with my child’s life. I’m involved with family. It’s wonderful. My doctors did a fantastic job. They saved my life.”
In February, the Tehenskys relocated to Perrysburg so that Mike, in the finance profession, can be close to his family in his native Ottawa Hills. Since April, Ashley has been the development director for the American Heart Association in Northwest Ohio.
Looking at photos from the past five years, some with Tehensky’s hair gone or in various states, some with her wearing a wig, which she said she did for special occasions like holidays, she said Tripp “wondered why mommy looks different.” In figuring out how to explain it, she came upon the idea of writing an illustrated book. “It just clicked,” she said of the notion. “I thought it would be so helpful as a resource” for others in similar situations.
In six months she wrote the text, edited it, worked with an illustrator, and is self-publishing it. It’s ready for pre-order online, and will be available on Nov. 11.
“The book illustrations demonstrate the various stages of illness, mainly hair loss. The illustrations mirror that message by showing Mommy as a lion who may lose her mane and appears tired, but is always surrounded by warmth, color and playful details that reflect love and connection,” Tehensky said.
“The contrast between her changing appearance and the bright, comforting scenes helps children see that strength isn’t about how you look—it’s about the heart and the bravery inside. Together, the words and artwork create a story that encourages understanding, empathy, and hope while gently normalizing the effects of illness.”
Tehensky explained the meaning of the title. “I’m a Leo, and I’ve always loved lions. I think they have a quiet stillness.” Lions are recognized for their mane, representing hair. That her hair fell out and now returned shows that she’s as strong and powerful as before.
“I’m really excited that this journey can help others in a positive way,” Tehensky said.
For details and to order, visit: store.bookbaby.com/book/mommy-the-brave-lion
