The Beads of Courage program was invented as a tangible way for children with cancer to show their treatment milestones and a sign of what theyâve endured. http://childrenwithcourage.com Just like medals and ribbons, beads have been used in modern day cultures to show bravery and accomplishment. Listen to teen cancer patient Laura Stewart along with Dr. Katzenstein, one of the first physicians in the country to use this special kind of therapy, talk about the program and what it means.