Delivering Brave Boxes to kids with courage

A Spire employee is on a mission to help children feel less afraid as they battle Type 1 diabetes.  

When her daughter was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at just 6 years old, a Brave Box gave her family strength when they needed it most — and Susy Fansher never forgot the impact of that gift.  

Susy, a business development lead at Spire, also serves on the board for the Kids With Courage Foundation, the same nonprofit that delivered a special box to her daughter’s hospital room years ago.  

After her daughter’s diagnosis, Susy and her family had to adapt to new challenges every day, from checking blood sugar levels and giving insulin to responding to sudden changes in appetite. 

"Type 1 diabetes is a constant roller coaster that never allows breaks,” she said. “Even when you think you’ve done everything right, there are unpredictable variables that like to throw curveballs at the very worst times.”  

As they adjusted to their new reality, Susy and her family began looking for ways to help others. They started a youth charity softball tournament to raise awareness about the warning signs of Type 1 diabetes and the importance of early diagnosis. While searching for a local organization that could benefit from the funds raised at the tournament, they came across the Kids With Courage Foundation and made a surprising connection. 

“We found Kids With Courage online and immediately realized that my daughter had received a Brave Box from them in the hospital many years before! That magic box was such a bright light during a very dark time, but we originally thought it was a gift from the hospital,” she said. “It was a full-circle moment to learn that Kids With Courage had supported us from the very beginning.”

Brave Boxes are filled with items that provide comfort and practical support to children with Type 1 diabetes, such as teddy bears wearing handmade superhero capes, card games and puzzles, medical ID bracelets, hygiene kits for unexpected hospital stays and handwritten notes from one child to another to reassure them that they are truly kids with courage. 

“I specifically remember how this Brave Box made my daughter smile for the first time during her hospital stay. It was a pivotal moment for all of us. We learned that courage and bravery, along with an amazing support system, will get us through,” she said.

As the community and fundraising director for Kids With Courage, Susy is helping the organization expand its reach through charitable events, scholarships and educational caregiving classes. Additionally, Kids With Courage has created and delivered more than 6,000 Brave Boxes to hospitals across Missouri — including in Kansas City, Columbia and St. Louis — as well as other states and countries when requested.  

“I just feel like people going through what may be the worst day of their life need to know that they have an organization they can count on,” she said. 

Spire has proudly supported this effort through a grant that helps fund the Brave Box program, ensuring more families receive critical resources and encouragement when they need it most.

Susy hopes her story inspires others to give back to causes and organizations they’re passionate about.

“Kindness is contagious, and even small acts of kindness can go a very long way," she said.