All writers have a story within their soul they want to pour out into words. Some take place in another world where the laws of physics don’t apply as they do in our world. Some have advanced technologies that have not been invented in our realm of existence. Some have creatures and beings that that only live in myth and folklore. Some tales are of the distant or recent past where people like us lived out different lives in a different time. And some tales are told in the here and now in the present-day sufferings and resurrection of our own journey to heaven.
Out of all the submissions that have been given to me in our Meet the Writer series, Laura’s interview is the most personal. She describes the long and winding walk down her own path of Calvary with the suffering and death of your young son Francisco. It is a story with a lot of heart and hope and shows the courage that this woman has in the face of something most of us would never want to travel down but so many have. It seems as if this hopeful mom had the rare privilege of raising a Saint. His story may remind you of another young saint who struggled and died a young age. St. Carlo Acutis.
I hope this interview will install in you some encouragement for your own journey of faith as you…
Meet Catholic Writer and Courageous Mom Laura Fredrickson
1. Tell something interesting about yourself.
I don’t know if it counts as interesting per se, but I went from being a “cultural Catholic” to full on atheist for 8 years, back to Catholicism, and now a devout Catholic, mother and wife. On a separate note, in 2023, we navigated a surprise twin pregnancy at the same time as our oldest son was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer. Our son’s holy and joyful journey brought the beauty of Heaven and the strong presence of the Holy Spirit in an undeniable way into our lives.
Dnalor 01 – Own work – Stained glass representation of the Holy Spirit as a dove, c. 1660
2. What makes a good Catholic writer?
Surrender and humility. Understanding that, regardless of how “well known” we can become, the praise of men is nothing compared to the true joy that comes from living out God’s will. The best Catholic writers, I feel, are the ones that truly step out of their minds and let the Holy Spirit “take charge of their pen,” so to speak.
Vadim Zhuravlev – Own work
3. What do you like about being a Catholic/Christian Writer?
I love that it’s something that can become our ministry! For me, it became a way to allow the Holy Spirit into my heart and let Him guide my words, fully surrendering the act of writing into His hands. The ability to write and evoke in others’ emotions that sometimes they can’t even explain or understand themselves, is truly a grace that is not manmade, but lovingly granted to us. I so appreciate having a perspective that allows me to rejoice in my “littleness,” to know that I have not created or earned this, but that this is instead a beautiful tool that the Father has put in my pocket, for the purpose of bringing more souls towards Heaven.
4. What is the main focus of your particular writing or what do you like to write about?
Inevitably, I write a lot about suffering. But, perhaps, with a bit of a twist. When my son, Francisco, was diagnosed with DIPG (Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma, pediatric terminal brain cancer), he was only 7 years old. It was the beginning of the most mind-blowing, incredible, hopeful and joyful journey – even in the midst of the most horrendous kind of hardship. His cancer was a particularly cruel one, one that we knew, from the get-go, would take away all his motor skills while leaving his cognitive skills intact.
Dante and Beatrice gaze upon the highest heaven; from Gustave Doré’s illustrations to the Divine Comedy.
He knew this as well. But the way he navigated his very real (and very warranted) fear and suffering was by flipping it around. That little dude was one of the most joyful people to have walked this earth. He truly had his gaze set upon Heaven and had endless plans for when he made it up there. His body suffered TREMENDOUSLY during his earthly journey, but his soul, if anything, only got lighter and happier. The closer we got to his earthly death, the more his body deteriorated, and yet the more his soul seemed to experience a real, joyful, and holy longing for Heaven. The experience of walking our son through that journey completely changed, not just the way I write or what I write about, but my entire perspective of earthly life, death, and Eternity. What I find myself writing about, now, always has a way of pointing towards the joy and hope of Eternal Life.
5. How does your Catholic Faith influence your writing?
Oof! My Catholic Faith is my writing! It is, in fact, my whole life. One thing I want to, eventually, try to approach is how to write about a hope that can also capture the hearts of non-believers. The truth is, for me, hope, joy, beauty, all that is good comes from our Father. That knowledge that is embedded deeply into my soul, has a way of coming out in pretty much everything that I write, be it a longer manuscript or a shorter article, or even a social media blurb.
6. What’s your favorite article/post/book/story you have written?
My favorite one is by far my first manuscript – which is yet to be published! So more on that later. But as far as articles, that might be a tie between two that I recently published on my Substack: one is “The Paradox of Human Suffering and Holy Joy” .
It wasn’t until after Francisco’s earthly death that I understood something that I couldn’t see before: people weren’t recognizing the “holiness” of my child despite what they hadn’t seen firsthand… They were recognizing it because of it. They were aware of what went on “behind closed doors” because, honestly, I shared it all very openly. I shared the ups and downs — his moments of wisdom, and his moments of despair. And it was because of his joyful nature mixed in with (or, perhaps, in response to) his profound physical and emotional suffering, that people felt that this child was special. And that they wantedtobe like this child. I can see and feel it so clearly now myself, because yes, like I told the little man himself: “dude, I want to be like YOU when I grow up!”
Today I noticed the heartbreaking amount of bereaved parents on my friends list. It makes sense, of course — I am one, too. I met many of them during Francisco’s cancer battle (with DIPG being a rare type of cancer, the DIPG parent community is a “small” one, in the grand scheme of things). Some have also turned to me as a friend after losing their child. Some have children still in the brutal battle. Some have had to very recently say goodbye to them.
Francisco’s beautiful flowers during his Visitation (December 11, 2024)
My heart breaks. I am aware that when I speak, my heart and soul leap with joy. I know that when I write, my words seem full of faith and hope. And all of that is absolutely genuine. The little “tagline” that I have in my Instagram blurb says “turning grief into joy” — and yes! That is 100% honest, in great part because I had an absolute pro teach me how to do just that: my sweet little guy, Francisco.
7. What is your favorite topic/subject to write about?
Hope in the face of adversity. How our life can become a life of Hope by reshaping our perspective. Focusing on the promise of Eternity, more than the ups and downs of earthly life, can truly bring about a sense of joy and surrender that is not of this world.
Hope, which lay at the bottom of the box, remained. Allegorical painting by George Frederic Watts, 1886
8. Favorite Scripture verse.
Ooh, that’s actually an easy one – Paul!
“For this slight momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, because we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen; for the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.” (2 Cor 4:17-18)
9. What are you currently working on?
Working on getting my first manuscript published! It’s finished and nearly ready to go out into the world. It’s the beautiful story of Francisco’s journey towards Heaven. In parallel, I’m also working on my first children’s book. A book that will address death and loss, but with a beautiful, joyful and hopeful outlook, by showing death as the passage onto the next life. It’s a topic that is greatly lacking in children’s books (especially because it’s a scary topic for adults to even think of, let alone speak of), so here I am to try to happily and passionately fill in that gap!
10. Name a favorite saint or Catholic or some other figure who inspires you in your life.
Oh man. This one’s incredibly tough. I have some solid Heavenly buddies up there – my “main crew” being St. Therese of Lisieux, St. Teresa of Avila, and St. Paul. If I was to pick my main one right this moment, though, it’d probably be St. Paul. As I begin what I see more and more as a life of ministry “through words,” I feel myself becoming closer to him and his spirituality. And even leaving that aside, for the last couple of years – both during my son’s battle and after his earthly passing – there have been various “Pauline nudges” that I’ve felt in my soul (my son did as well… In fact, he may have experienced that even before I did). I think Paul is accompanying me on this journey in a very particular way.
Paul the Apostle depicted in Saint Paul Writing His Epistles, a c. 1619 portrait by Valentin de Boulogne
11. Who is your favorite Living Writer?
I really enjoy Dr. Peter Kreeft’s writings. I’ll admit that with my crazy stay-at-home mom lifestyle, it’s tough to sit down and read a whole book, but my bookworm husband has tons of wonderful Theology books, and I’ve found myself really sitting down to make intentional time to read different bits from Dr. Kreeft’s “Catholic Christianity.”
Another author I enjoy (and in a completely different style) is Katelyn Facista from Tea With Tolkien. Her writing style really appeals to me, and I can’t wait to dive into her new book, “Into the Heart of Middle Earth!”
12. If you could have lunch with any deceased writer who would it be, what would you eat and what would you talk about?
C.S. Lewis, without a doubt! It was kinda close with Tolkien, but Lewis is who I would ultimately choose. I find his insight of the spiritual world, and the presence of the Holy Spirit in his works, absolutely fascinating. I read he liked good, hearty meals, so I’d probably treat him to some delicious Peruvian stews (as I was born and raised in Peru) while we talk about our views of Heaven and the afterlife!
13, Name a favorite movie/tv show or music you find worth sharing with others.
The Chosen! Oh my goodness. That show is so much more than a show – truly, it’s a ministry. And it’s beautiful!
14. Can you see one of your books being made into a movie or tv series?
I can! Our Diocese, the Diocese of Arlington, actually produced a short video on the life of Francisco, which they released at the end of 2025, to round out the Jubilee Year of Hope. I absolutely imagine my book about Francisco’s journey becoming a movie/documentary one day.
I dream of it becoming something like the documentary about Servant of God Sr. Clare Crockett, “All or Nothing.” What a joy that would be! But, as with anything I write – whatever the Father wants!
15. Favorite Historical event.
This is going to possibly sound really strange (and, believe me, I tried to think of something else)…but I would say World War II – perhaps especially so the rise and fall of the Third Reich. Ever since I first learned about it as a teenager history buff, I was so intrigued to learn more about it. I wanted to understand how on earth evil had become so strong. What happened in 1930s Germany to allow evil to flourish in such a way. And, in response to that, the incredible stories of courage and bravery (and, now, as a Catholic Christian, the amazing Saints that stepped up in the face of such evil) that quietly became the light and hope of Christ in what I am sure must have felt like a God-less world at the time. It’s strange to call it my “favorite” historical event, but I guess what pulls at my soul so strongly about that time is precisely seeing the good still push through and flourish both in small ways, and in big ways (the big way being the end of the war and the Nazi regime).
Retired Pope Benedict XVI, pictured in a 2008 file photo, celebrated his 93rd birthday April 16, 2020. (CNS photo/Gregory A. Shemitz) See BENEDICT-93 April 16, 2020.
16. What else do you want people to know about anything?
Probably the one thing that I seem to share with anyone, whenever I can, in whichever way is appropriate: do not lose hope. Maybe this doesn’t qualify as sharing “knowledge,” but if I’m given the chance to say anything about anything, I will always try to encourage everyone to keep going, even in the midst of terrible hardship. Persevere, even if you’re in the midst of darkness…it may sound cliche, but it may just be that your example and determination, ends up becoming someone else’s light. We are never alone in our battles, and evil, suffering and pain, never – ever – have the last word!
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