I’m Krista Layman, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Kate’s Kart, a nonprofit that provides brand-new books to hospitalized children across Northeast Indiana. My husband, Andy, and I started Kate’s Kart after losing our daughter, Kate, who was born with a severe heart defect. During her many hospital stays, we discovered that reading to her was the one “normal” thing we could do as parents—it brought comfort, connection, and a small sense of home in the midst of uncertainty.
After Kate passed away at just 18 months old, we wanted to keep saying her name and find a way to share the same comfort we had found in reading to her. Using her memorial funds, we bought books for other hospitalized children—a small act that has grown into a network of carts serving dozens of hospitals. Each new book is a reminder to families that they are not alone, that joy and normalcy still exist even in the hardest moments.
Kate inspires me every day. Her short life taught us how powerful small moments can be—how a single story, a single book, can change the atmosphere of a hospital room. What began as a way to heal our own hearts has become a mission to heal others.
We hope to solve a simple but important problem: the emotional isolation families feel during long hospital stays. Shared libraries aren’t allowed anymore for health reasons, so Kate’s Kart fills that gap by providing clean, brand-new books that children can keep. Each cart visit sparks smiles, laughter, and a sense of connection between families, hospital staff, and volunteers.
What I get out of this work is healing and purpose. Every time I see a child light up while choosing a book, I see a piece of Kate’s legacy living on. Kate’s Kart reminds me daily that love can grow from loss—and that hope can begin with something as small as a story.
After Kate passed away at just 18 months old, we wanted to keep saying her name and find a way to share the same comfort we had found in reading to her. Using her memorial funds, we bought books for other hospitalized children—a small act that has grown into a network of carts serving dozens of hospitals. Each new book is a reminder to families that they are not alone, that joy and normalcy still exist even in the hardest moments.
Kate inspires me every day. Her short life taught us how powerful small moments can be—how a single story, a single book, can change the atmosphere of a hospital room. What began as a way to heal our own hearts has become a mission to heal others.
We hope to solve a simple but important problem: the emotional isolation families feel during long hospital stays. Shared libraries aren’t allowed anymore for health reasons, so Kate’s Kart fills that gap by providing clean, brand-new books that children can keep. Each cart visit sparks smiles, laughter, and a sense of connection between families, hospital staff, and volunteers.
What I get out of this work is healing and purpose. Every time I see a child light up while choosing a book, I see a piece of Kate’s legacy living on. Kate’s Kart reminds me daily that love can grow from loss—and that hope can begin with something as small as a story.
