About Us
Greetings!
We are Matthew and Jaclyn Miller, co-founders of MY HERO under UMBO Books, a veteran-owned enterprise based in sunny San Diego, CA. Matt currently serves in the US Navy, while Jaclyn works as an audiologist, caring for active-duty service members in the San Diego area. Our adventure into MY HERO emerged from our deep passion for storytelling and fostering connections, inspired by our personal journey as a military family.
Matthew and Jaclyn's story begins with the birth of their oldest
After the deployment, Matt transitioned to shore duty, and in September 2022, they welcomed their second son, Hayden, who was later diagnosed with an eye muscle condition requiring frequent prescription glasses not covered by TRICARE. At the same time, they were undergoing home renovations and living in their garage. Amid these challenges, they taught their older son, Mason, to dress himself, nicknaming him "The Backwards Man" for putting his clothes on backward. This playful moment inspired
This led to the founding of UMBO, named after Jaclyn’s expertise as an audiologist. The umbo is the small part of the tympanic membrane (eardrum) where the eardrum connects to the handle of the malleus, a tiny bone in the middle ear and helps in transmitting sound vibrations to the middle ear. The name symbolizes their commitment to fostering communication and connection. The red glasses in UMBO’s logo represent Hayden’s own journey with prescription glasses, symbolizing their dedication to helping military families like theirs. The My Hero doll became more than a product-it became a mission to support families and keep them connected, regardless of where duty called.