💜 Our Health Journey

A Parent Health Journal

"Because no parent should have to navigate this journey alone."

When your child is diagnosed with a visible difference or medical condition, life can suddenly become filled with appointments, specialists, referrals, treatments and unanswered questions.

In the middle of trying to care for your child, you're expected to remember everything.

This journal was created because I know what that feels like.

As a mum of a little girl born with a facial port-wine stain, I spent years searching for a place to keep everything together, medical information, appointment notes, milestones, questions, emotions and memories. It didn't exist.

So I created it.

Our Health Journey is more than a medical planner. It's a place to record your child's healthcare journey while also celebrating the beautiful moments that happen along the way.

Inside you'll find over 80 thoughtfully designed pages, including:

💜 Healthcare appointment logs

💜 Questions to ask your specialists

💜 Psychology session notes

💜 Medical history and emergency information

💜 Growth charts and developmental milestones

💜 School meeting notes

💜 Self-care pages for parents

💜 "Things I Wish Someone Had Told Me"

💜 Letters to your child

💜 Gentle reminders to encourage and support you on the difficult days

Designed by a healthcare professional, medical student and, most importantly, a mum who has walked this journey herself, every page has been created with compassion, practicality and hope.

Whether your child has a birthmark, craniofacial difference, cleft, haemangioma, vascular anomaly or another visible difference, this journal is designed to help you feel organised, informed and a little less alone.

Because while you may not have chosen this journey...

You don't have to walk it alone.

💜 Instant Digital Download

✔ Print at home as many times as you need

✔ Use in a folder or have it professionally bound

✔ Designed for families from diagnosis and beyond

A message from me

I created this journal because I wish someone had handed it to me the day my daughter was born. My hope is that it gives your family the same comfort, confidence and organisation that I spent years trying to create for my own.

Brooke Nissen

Founder, Facing Forward Australia

How to Use Your Editable Journal

Thank you so much for your purchase! 💜 To make sure your journal entries save correctly, please follow these simple steps before you begin.

1. Download the Journal First

Please do not complete the journal in your web browser (such as Chrome, Safari, or Edge).

Instead:

• Download the PDF to your computer, tablet, or device.
• Save it before opening it.

This will ensure all of your entries can be saved correctly.

2. Open It in a PDF App

For the best experience, open your journal using a dedicated PDF application.

Computer (Windows/Mac):

• Adobe Acrobat Reader (Free)

iPad or Tablet:

• Adobe Acrobat
• GoodNotes
• Notability
• Xodo (Android & iPad)

3. Start Filling It In

Simply click or tap on any text field or blank space to begin typing.

You can:

• Type directly into the journal
• Save your progress
• Close the file and come back later
• Print it at any time if you'd prefer a handwritten copy

4. Save Your Progress

Remember to save your journal regularly while you're working on it.

When you're finished, save a copy with a new name (for example, "My Facing Forward Journal") so your completed version is always safe.

Need Help?

If you experience any issues opening or editing your journal, please don't hesitate to get in touch. I'm always happy to help.

Thank you for supporting Facing Forward Australia. I hope this journal becomes a helpful companion throughout your journey.