Rebecca Robinson grew up in a home marked by both deep love and quiet sacrifice. Her older sister, Kara, was born with severe Cerebral Palsy. From the beginning, Kara required round-the-clock care, medical equipment, and endless patience — needs her parents met with unwavering devotion and compassion. Their home was filled with the tenderness of a family bound together by something far stronger than circumstance: love.

But amid the visible weight her parents carried, Rebecca faced an invisible burden of her own. As the younger sibling, she often felt the pressure to be “the easy one.” She learned not to complain, not to need too much, and not to add stress to her already overwhelmed parents. This quiet phenomenon, known as Glass Child Syndrome, left Rebecca feeling transparent.

“I didn't want to be a burden,” she shared in a recent episode of the Cedarville Stories podcast. “My parents were doing everything they could for Kara. I just didn’t want to take up more space.”

Now a 2025 graduate of Cedarville University, Rebecca has taken her story and transformed it into a gift for others. Her children’s book, Penelope Panda’s Peculiar Family, gives voice to the complex emotions that siblings of children with disabilities often experience — grief, love, confusion, and resilience. With warmth and whimsy, it helps families talk about what often goes unsaid.

Rebecca’s heart for ministry doesn't stop at home. Her book is being translated into Japanese to address a culture where disabilities often remain hidden in silence. She hopes it will open doors for compassion, healing, and Gospel conversations.

Though Kara has since passed, Rebecca holds fast to her faith. “She’s with Christ now,” she says. “And while my past shaped me, my identity is in the hope of what’s to come.”

From the quiet corners of her childhood to the global impact of her words, Rebecca’s story is one of grace woven through pain — a light shining through even the most delicate glass.

Cedarville University, an evangelical Christian institution in southwest Ohio, offers undergraduate and graduate residential and online programs across arts, sciences and professional fields. With 7,265 students, it ranks among Ohio's largest private universities and is recognized byThe Wall Street Journalas being among the nation’s top three evangelical universities. Cedarville is also known for its vibrant Christian community, challenging academics and high graduation and retention rates. Learn more atcedarville.edu.