Of mice and

pictures jono da canha

Seven years ago, Debbie and Jono da Canha resembled your average suburban couple, with the same hopes, dreams, and vision for the future. A graphic designer by trade, Jono worked in video production and TV advertising, and Debbie managed collections and administration for medical doctors. Life was pretty good, and particularly so when Debbie fell pregnant. Beautiful little Hannah was born, and everything was going according to plan.

The da Canhas admit their world tilted slightly when Debbie found herself pregnant a few months after Hannah was born: “Ooh. Two under two. Do you know what you’re in for?” was the common refrain. Fact is, no one had any idea what the da Canhas were in for. Tate was born a year and a week after Hannah, and not only was the couple

MAN

SOMETIMES, IN OUR DARKEST PERIODS, SOME UNEXPECTED OPPORTUNITY PRESENTS ITSELF. THAT’S WHAT HAPPENED TO JONO AND DEBBIE DA CANHA, WRITES ANNE SCHAUFFER

juggling life with two little children, but Debbie fell ill. After strings of tests and specialists, she was finally diagnosed with four different chronic and autoimmune conditions. Everything in her body slowed down, and it left her desperately battling with fatigue, anxiety and depression, weight gain, migraines, and at one point impaired vision. As Jono said wryly, “To say we were beyond tired, is an understatement. Those two years were a blur.” The mental and physical exhaustion was matched only by the state of their eroding finances. Just after Tate turned two, he was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. As Jono says, “This took the parenting challenge into uncharted

LEFT: Debbie and Jono da Canha with daughter Hannah and son Tate.

territory.” The diagnosis at least gave them some answers, an explanation as to why routines like bedtime were near impossible: “Our son was non-verbal and used mostly shouting or insistent sounds to communicate.” In the midst of all this, they began to notice that little Hannah was taking some strain of her own. At three-and-a-half-years old, she was visibly wrestling with why her parents were constantly stressed and tired, and why her brother wouldn’t or couldn’t play or relate to her. Jono and Debbie were witnesses to this, and knew they had to find ways to make extra one-on-one time with her.

ABOVE & BELOW: Mr Brown Mouse audio books with orchestral music, character voices and sound effects, plus a Mr Brown Mouse colouring-in book to colour in while listening to the stories.

No matter how exhausted Jono was, he began making up bedtime stories for her. Mr Brown Mouse was born: “I would often work into them a ‘you can do anything’ attitude. I wanted them to be positive and uplifting, to help buoy her up, so they were around themes like courage and being adventurous.” He laughs, “It wasn’t always easy to dig that deep when I wanted to hide in a dark room, but she loved them. These moments were also an opportunity to help her through the struggles of dealing with a special needs sibling.” Hannah loved the stories so much that when Jono hit a wall, she participated in crafting the

Hannah loved the stories so much that when Jono hit a wall, she participated in crafting the narrative. They were ‘their’ stories

narrative. They were ‘their’ stories. One evening, Jono recalls lying next to Hannah, telling her the latest episode, when Debbie walked past the room: “She paused, listening, and I heard her laugh. Debbie loved the story, and the sound I made of Mr Brown Mouse’s ears flapping in the wind as he rode on Mrs Giraffe’s head ... and it made me think others might too.” Jono had no clear idea why he did this, but he began recording the stories on his phone. Initially, on nights when Debbie or Jono were just too exhausted to tell Hannah a story, she’d choose which one she wanted, and listen to it on the phone: “This became moments of pure gold to us! We would either lay down next to her while she listened, or even snatch an extra half hour’s rest in the middle of the tough bedtime routine. It was certainly never intended to replace book reading or quality time.” Jono thought if these audio stories helped them, it could do likewise for other parents. He took the decision to transcribe, edit, and refine them, then sourced talent globally to bring them to life. He felt strongly they should remain audio books, and not add to the overdose of screen time. The result? Professionally crafted audio books complete with original orchestral music, character voices, sound effects and cover art. There’s even a Mr Brown Mouse colouring-in book. From the outset, Jono intended the Mr Brown Mouse series for moms and dads – to give them a little break when they need to recalibrate or breathe. Jono and Debbie know how much it helped them. Feedback from parents has only been positive, and in an overloud, screendominated world, children are responding to the quiet of listening to a story unfold – either together with their parents, or on their own. Quiet as a mouse. *

FOR MORE INFO www.mrbrownmouse.com: Listen to samples and buy individual audiobooks for R29,95 each or R149,95 for a set of six stories. The downloadable Mr Brown Mouse Colouring-in Book is R59,95; W https://www.facebook. com/MrBrownMouse/; mrbrownmouseinfo@gmail.com for info or queries