Janis Babson
Encyclopedia
Janis Anne Babson was a 10 year old Canadian child, who gained posthumous fame through the donation of her eyes for cornea transplants. Her story was outlined in a newspaper article syndicated across Canada that later prompted two books and other memorials.
When Janis died of leukemia
in 1961, cornea
transplantation was state of the art, unlike today, when a variety of organs can be donated. While fairly common for parents who lose young children to donate some of their organs to others, Janis' bequeath was significant, because the giving of her eyes upon her death was her idea and not that of her mother and father.
. Viewing the program was pure happenstance. A young girl with a deep passion for horses, she loved watching the National Velvet television show. When her youngest brother fell asleep on her lap, not wanting to wake him, she remained in front of the TV when a White Cane Week special aired. The program hosts explained how some blindness could be cured by the availability of corneal donations, restoring the recipients' eyesight. Following the program, a tearful Janis informed her parents that when she died, she wanted to donate her eyes to give the gift of sight to others. Her parents, Harry Rudolphe (Rudy) Babson, a Canadian Mountie and her mother, Rita Quinn Babson knew that their sensitive and giving child was serious about the gift, but felt that Janis had many years remaining in her life and such a gift could be decades away.
After the tests were all completed, it was determined that Janis was suffering from a sub-acute form of Leukemia
. In the 1950s and 1960s, Leukemia was universally fatal
and Janis was giving maybe a year, possibly a little more to live. As it turned out, Janis responded well to treatments that would slow down and retard the advance of the leukemia, but not cure it. Overall, Janis survived some 26 months after the initial diagnosis.
All through her illness, Janis continually reminded both of her parents of the promise she had made regarding the donation of her eyes. Her parents' original reluctance gave way when her father Rudy signed consent forms for the donation of Janis' eyes just hours before her death.
Janis was buried the following Monday in Notre Dame Cemetery in Ottawa
Her entire school attended the Catholic
mass. One great fear that Janis had was that after dying, she would be forgotten. That was not to happen.
. The reporter was so impressed, he contacted the Ottawa Journal
(no longer in publication). A young reporter named Tim Burke contacted the Babson family and asked if he could write a story about Janis and her gift. The Babson's consented and on May 31, 1961, the article "Little Janis" appeared in the paper under Burke's "Under the Hill" column.
The response was overwhelming. From then Ottawa Mayor Charlotte Whitton
to a retired pharmacist, Abe Silver who created an endowment to the Hebrew National University, to groups and individuals who set record numbers of pledged donations to the Eye Bank. Thus Janis' story started out on the journey to be an inspiration to millions.
In 1962, the first of two books on Janis's short, yet remarkable life, Janis of City View (Holy Cross Press) by Rena Ray was published. The following year, author Lawrence Elliott, a frequent contributing writer to Reader's Digest
, published another book, A Little Girl's Gift (Holt, Rinehart and Winston
). Six months prior to the release of the book, a condensed version appeared in the June 1963 edition of the Reader's Digest under the title, The Triumph of Janis Babson.
A large-cupped daffodil, pure-white, broad-petaled with pretty pink rims was named after Janis as Narcissus Janis Babson as a tribute.
page where many whose lives were touched by young Janis can leave comments and posts. A 50th anniversary tribute arranged by the Babson Family is being held on May 27, 2011 in Ottawa to commemorate the half century since Janis's death. It will feature author Lawrence Elliott (along with a commemorative republication of 1963's A Little Girl's Gift and artist Caroline Langill (Custody of the Eyes) among the guests.
When Janis died of leukemia
Leukemia
Leukemia or leukaemia is a type of cancer of the blood or bone marrow characterized by an abnormal increase of immature white blood cells called "blasts". Leukemia is a broad term covering a spectrum of diseases...
in 1961, cornea
Cornea
The cornea is the transparent front part of the eye that covers the iris, pupil, and anterior chamber. Together with the lens, the cornea refracts light, with the cornea accounting for approximately two-thirds of the eye's total optical power. In humans, the refractive power of the cornea is...
transplantation was state of the art, unlike today, when a variety of organs can be donated. While fairly common for parents who lose young children to donate some of their organs to others, Janis' bequeath was significant, because the giving of her eyes upon her death was her idea and not that of her mother and father.
White Cane Week
When Janis was younger and healthy, she saw a television program sponsored by the Eye bankEye bank
Eye banks retrieve and store eyes for cornea transplants and research. US eye banks provide tissue for about 46,000 cornea transplants a year to treat conditions such as keratoconus and cornea scarring. The cornea is not the only part of the eye that can currently undergo transplantation. The...
. Viewing the program was pure happenstance. A young girl with a deep passion for horses, she loved watching the National Velvet television show. When her youngest brother fell asleep on her lap, not wanting to wake him, she remained in front of the TV when a White Cane Week special aired. The program hosts explained how some blindness could be cured by the availability of corneal donations, restoring the recipients' eyesight. Following the program, a tearful Janis informed her parents that when she died, she wanted to donate her eyes to give the gift of sight to others. Her parents, Harry Rudolphe (Rudy) Babson, a Canadian Mountie and her mother, Rita Quinn Babson knew that their sensitive and giving child was serious about the gift, but felt that Janis had many years remaining in her life and such a gift could be decades away.
Diagnosis of leukemia
In early 1958, when she was 8 years old, her mother noticed that Janis seemed to lose energy and her appetite. They decided to take Janis to the family practitioner. Noticing a large concentration of white blood cells from a sample he took, he recommended a specialist be consulted. In March, Janis was admitted to the Ottawa Civic Hospital for additional tests.After the tests were all completed, it was determined that Janis was suffering from a sub-acute form of Leukemia
Leukemia
Leukemia or leukaemia is a type of cancer of the blood or bone marrow characterized by an abnormal increase of immature white blood cells called "blasts". Leukemia is a broad term covering a spectrum of diseases...
. In the 1950s and 1960s, Leukemia was universally fatal
Fatal
Fatal may refer to:* Causing death* Fatal , an album by Hussein Fatal* Fatal Recordings, a feminist record label* Fatal, a rapper who collaborated with the band Therapy? on the song "Come and Die" from the Judgment Night film soundtrack...
and Janis was giving maybe a year, possibly a little more to live. As it turned out, Janis responded well to treatments that would slow down and retard the advance of the leukemia, but not cure it. Overall, Janis survived some 26 months after the initial diagnosis.
Death
Janis' condition deteriorated in 1961 as the leukemia advanced. She was hospitalized twice and released to return home. In early May, the third admission to the hospital would be her last. Janis Babson died in her parents arms at 9:25 pm (EST) on Friday, May 12, 1961.All through her illness, Janis continually reminded both of her parents of the promise she had made regarding the donation of her eyes. Her parents' original reluctance gave way when her father Rudy signed consent forms for the donation of Janis' eyes just hours before her death.
Janis was buried the following Monday in Notre Dame Cemetery in Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
Her entire school attended the Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
mass. One great fear that Janis had was that after dying, she would be forgotten. That was not to happen.
Legacy
Janis's best friend moved away from Ottawa. When her family was interviewed by the local paper as part of a get to know you neighbors feature, young Tricia Kennedy announced that her best friend died of leukemia and donated her eyes to the Eye Bank in TorontoToronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
. The reporter was so impressed, he contacted the Ottawa Journal
Ottawa Journal
The Ottawa Journal was a daily broadsheet newspaper published in Ottawa, Ontario from 1885 to 1980.It was founded in 1885 by A. Woodburn as the Ottawa Evening Journal. Its first editor was John Wesley Dafoe who came from the Winnipeg Free Press. In 1886, it was bought by Philip Dansken Ross.The...
(no longer in publication). A young reporter named Tim Burke contacted the Babson family and asked if he could write a story about Janis and her gift. The Babson's consented and on May 31, 1961, the article "Little Janis" appeared in the paper under Burke's "Under the Hill" column.
The response was overwhelming. From then Ottawa Mayor Charlotte Whitton
Charlotte Whitton
Charlotte Elizabeth Whitton, OC, CBE was a Canadian feminist and mayor of Ottawa. She was the first female mayor of a major city in Canada, serving from 1951 to 1956 and again from 1960 to 1964...
to a retired pharmacist, Abe Silver who created an endowment to the Hebrew National University, to groups and individuals who set record numbers of pledged donations to the Eye Bank. Thus Janis' story started out on the journey to be an inspiration to millions.
In 1962, the first of two books on Janis's short, yet remarkable life, Janis of City View (Holy Cross Press) by Rena Ray was published. The following year, author Lawrence Elliott, a frequent contributing writer to Reader's Digest
Reader's Digest
Reader's Digest is a general interest family magazine, published ten times annually. Formerly based in Chappaqua, New York, its headquarters is now in New York City. It was founded in 1922, by DeWitt Wallace and Lila Bell Wallace...
, published another book, A Little Girl's Gift (Holt, Rinehart and Winston
Holt, Rinehart and Winston
Holt McDougal is an American publishing company, a division of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, that specializes in textbooks for use in secondary schools. Holt, Rinehart and Winston was a division of Harcourt Education...
). Six months prior to the release of the book, a condensed version appeared in the June 1963 edition of the Reader's Digest under the title, The Triumph of Janis Babson.
A large-cupped daffodil, pure-white, broad-petaled with pretty pink rims was named after Janis as Narcissus Janis Babson as a tribute.
Modern tributes
The advance of the internet has spawned several websites dedicated to Janis Babson's memory. In addition, her family (mother and siblings) are creating a FacebookFacebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
page where many whose lives were touched by young Janis can leave comments and posts. A 50th anniversary tribute arranged by the Babson Family is being held on May 27, 2011 in Ottawa to commemorate the half century since Janis's death. It will feature author Lawrence Elliott (along with a commemorative republication of 1963's A Little Girl's Gift and artist Caroline Langill (Custody of the Eyes) among the guests.
External links
- http://familyfirst.com/a-readers-digest-christmas-2.html,"A Reader's Digest Christmas"/Comments
- http://janisbabson.blogspot.com Janis Babson, Blogspot, Mingu Manubens
- http://briarcroft.wordpress.com/2010/03/04/lenten-meditation-character-produces-hope/ Lenten Meditation: Character produces hope ""March 4, 2010 by briarcroft"", Janis Babson,
- http://www.timminspress.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?archive=true&e=1529300 Dying Wish Lives On, Jessica Young,"The Daily Press", 2009
- http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=51844376 Janis Babson at Find a GraveFind A GraveFind a Grave is a commercial website providing free access and input to an online database of cemetery records. It was founded in 1998 as a DBA and incorporated in 2000.-History:...