Transforming the way children and families understand healthcare diagnoses
Transforming the way children and families understand healthcare diagnoses
Balma Health was founded in 2020 by siblings Sophia and Nickolas from Middleton, Wisconsin. At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, they spoke with parents in their local school districts and discovered a deep need: families wanted to help their children understand the virus without creating more fear or stress.
To meet this need, Sophia and Nickolas created an interactive lung model kit using simple arts and crafts materials found at home. The kit helped children learn about COVID-19 in a playful and empowering way.
The response was immediate and overwhelming—thousands of orders poured in from across the country. From their basement, Sophia and Nickolas worked tirelessly to pack and ship kits to homes, schools, and hospitals across the nation.
The feedback was profoundly moving. Parents told us that their children not only understood COVID-19 better, but also felt less anxious and more at ease after using the kit.
Kids who once felt scared or confused began to feel a sense of confidence, empowerment, and self-belief—that they could face the pandemic with courage. Parents and caregivers expressed immense gratitude for finally having a way to start such a difficult conversation without overwhelming their children.
For many families, the kit turned what could have been a moment of fear into one of connection, curiosity, and resilience. Some of the most touching responses came from families whose children were already living with chronic conditions like asthma and diabetes.
The kit didn't just help explain COVID-19—it sparked deeper conversations about their ongoing health journeys. Many parents shared how they wished something like this had been available when their children were first diagnosed, so they could have approached those moments with the same sense of empowerment and play.
This experience inspired Sophia and Nickolas to look deeper into the state of children's health education. After countless conversations with families and health professionals, and many hours of research, they realized most available resources were limited—static websites, dense publications, animated videos, or medical models designed for adults.
Very few tools spoke directly to children in a way that was playful, engaging, and empowering.
Our journey wouldn't be possible without the encouragement of the incredible organizations and communities that have believed in us from the very beginning. Their support has given us the tools, mentorship, and confidence to keep growing our mission.
We've had the privilege of participating in: Yale Tsai CITY's Launch Pad & Summer Accelerator Fellowship, University of Chicago New Venture Challenge, Startup Yale, and the Mount Sinai Health System Thrive Program.
At Startup Yale, Balma Health was honored to be recognized in two of its most prestigious competitions: The Thorne Prize for Social Innovation in Health or Education – Finalist & Audience Choice Award Winner; The Manolo-Sanchez Prize – Finalist.
Additionally, we were named winners of the Mount Sinai Thrive Pitch Competition, where our vision for play-based health education was celebrated for its innovation and impact.
At Balma Health, our mission is to transform the way children learn about their health. We create interactive, play-based education tools that turn fear into curiosity, confusion into confidence, and isolation into empowerment.
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Voices from parents, children, and care teams who experienced the difference.
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Our 5.5-year-old loved the project! He’s been making up his own spin-off experiments today. The story was the perfect level for him—thank you!
I think they both have a much better concept of what is going on now than they did before using the kit. It’s like a toy they can play with, while learning more about themselves.
It is rare as a child with diabetes that you feel special and different in a positive and empowering way. This kit made me feel that way.
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