"As soon as your child is diagnosed with cancer, normal is gone." Paula Crosby says with the knowledge of a mother whose son received that diagnosis. "You try to restore normal as best you can." Paula and Walt Crosby worked very hard to do that for the children Walt, John, and Henry after John was diagnosed with Adrenocortical Carcinoma at the age of eight. After John passed away six months later, the entire Crosby family, supported by other people who also loved John, has made it their purpose to restore normalcy for the other families facing cancer.

In the short time that John spent at University of Michigan C.S. Mott Children's Hospital battling a rare form of cancer, the Crosbys grew to appreciate the services that are provided for patients and families. They used the memorial contributions to start the John R. Crosby Foundation to honor John's memory and help other families.

The Foundation has accomplished some wonderful achievements in a short time span, much like John touched and taught an amazing number of people during his short life. In some ways John was like other eight year olds who loved to play video games and spend time with his brothers. John also had some special qualities that made him unique for his eight years-there was his sense of humor, his strong sense of self, his love of school, and his courage. His dad Walt lovingly says, "He showed a lot a people how to be a man."

His pre-school teacher lovingly remembers John as a boy, "who couldn't be persuaded by peer pressure. I think this strong sense of self and comfort with who he was is a quality Paula and Walt both show-perhaps they have dealt with tragedy so well because they have that internal strength of character as well."

John's family showed that strength of character by returning to the hospital where John received care and helping others soon after he passed away. John died in October 2001 and a month later the Crosbys made sure that families with patients staying in the pediatric cancer unit. had a special dinner for Thanksgiving. Child Life Specialist Theresa Foster knew the family during John's stay and witnessed how other families benefited from the Crosbys generosity. She says, "They knew firsthand through their experience how to help other families. It is important to them to help others and pay tribute to John."

In addition to the meals, the Crosbys used funds from their foundation to support other programs at University of Michigan C.S. Mott Children's Hospital. During John's stay at Mott, the Crosbys witnessed how the generosity of others helped patients. They remembered the boxes of beanie babies and the toys in the Child and Family Life activity centers. Their foundations has also provided special gifts for patients and families and support the Mott Golf Classic 2002, 2003.

The foundation has also supported Child and Family Life which provides programs to reduce the stress of hospitalizations for patients and their families. During his hospitalizations John usually didn't feel well enough to go to the Child Life activity centers at Mott, but his brothers certainly enjoyed their experiences their.

The Giving Library give new donated books to patients, and it is a great way to pay tribute to John's love of reading. Sarah Whorf Mellifont, BSN, RN, the Family Resource Center's Program Coordinator says, "The Crosbys continue to support children and families at Mott by donating new books to The Giving Library. Each time one of their books goes to a child, their son John is honored."

Additional donations have supported programs in the Pediatric ICU and for the Adrenal Cancer and Comprehensive Cancer Center. The foundation has raised money through some special events that honor John's memory and include his friends. John had been a third grader at Lawton school in Ann Arbor. Lawton has organized two well-attended Lawton School Run-a-thons to benefit both Lawton School PTO and the John R. Crosby Foundation.

The Crosby's dedication to helping others continued even after John's dad Walt was diagnosed with cancer. During his treatment and hospitalization the family has continued to organize events and provide special meals for Mott families. Theresa says, "It shows how important the foundation is to them that even with all the other things going on in thir lives they always follow through."

John's tenth birthday would have been March 10th of this year. John's family and friends found many ways to honor his memory and celebrate his life. There were beautiful bags of donations for Mott patients lovingly packed by John's friends. In addition, the Jazzercise at Wide World of Sports in Ann Arbor organized a fund-raiser and supply drive to benefit pediatric patients.

John's dad has also found another way to help patients and families at Mott Hospital. He joined the Mott Hospital Advisory Board. Former board member Kris Maly nominated Walt. She says, "He is one of the most compassionate and well-spoken people I have had the pleasure of knowing. "Kris also says, "With his passion for life, and his love of all children, Walt is a perfect advocate for young patients." His own experiences give him unique perspective. Because of Walt's experiences as the father of a patient and as a patient, he feels "very passionately" about patient advocacy.

Paula shares a favorite quote, "How does one best honor the memory of someone beloved? By embracing life." The Crosbys and all of the people supporting their foundation have found a wonderful way to remember and celebrate the life of an eight year old who can never be forgotten. At the same time, they have enriched the lives of other families with their dedication and compassion.

For more information about how you can support the John R. Crosby Memorial Foundation please visit the web site: www.johnrcrosby.org ore email" jcfoundations@johnrcrosby.org. Donations can be mailed to: John R. Crosby Foundation, 2348 Alder Court Ann Arbor, MI 48103.

Printed in the Ann Arbor News June 22, 2003 and Detroit Free Press July 6, 2003

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