This donor circle page is completely inspired by two incredible human beings, Julie Krasno and Debbie Dickens.

Julie is my Aunt, father's sister, and on the road to recovery from a stem cell transplant for Myelofibrosis that she recieved in October of 2015. For the past 17 years Julie has been treated for accompanying symptoms with the hope that the onset of severe fibrosis could be delayed as long as possible.  Julie's personal goal has always been living long enough to see our two boys (ages 12 and 14) through high school.  

Early this year, however, Julie's white blood cell counts rose sharply and her spleen and liver enlarged as those organs make blood cells to supplement the function of her weakening bone marrow. It was then determined that a Bone Marrow Transplant was needed and the process of finding a match began. Thankfully with the help of registries like Gift of Life, Julie found her match. I am so thankful that Gift of Life exists to save the lives of so many like my Aunt. I fundraise and swab as many people I can in honor of Julie Krasno.

The second person who is the inspiration to my cause is Debbie Dickens. Debbie was the mother of my best friend Spencer and one of the most loving and undeniably caring people I have had the pleasure of being around. A middle school history teacher, she had defeated cancer earlier in her life to return to her passion of educating our nation's youth. September 11, after battling a reoccurence of AML (acute myeloid lukemia) Debbie passed away peacefully. Although Debbie was unable to find her match, my mission is to swab as many as possible so that patients like her will be able to find their match.

This is in memory of Debbie Dickens, so please donate in any way possible by either finding a local drive near you, contacting myself, or monetarily donating to the cause. Together we can get everyone. Join "Debbie's Donors".

Thank you for any and all you give to Gift of Life.

Sincerely,

John DeBevoise

"You beat cancer by how you live, why you live, and the manner in which you live.”

-Stuart Scott