Hope for Debbie
Donation protected
It's hard for me to find the right words that convey just how amazing, kind-hearted, and giving a person Debbie is...and I'm a writer who is rarely--if ever-- at a serious loss for words.
Debbie is a chief custodian. She’s not a janitor. She’s not a “garbage lady”—she’s a chief custodian. At least that’s what she tells all of the little kids at Ridgeway Elementary where she previously worked two jobs just to make ends meet. Debbie: Custodian-Extraordinaire by day, former After School Mentor by night.
But what most people know about Debbie is that she's way more than a custodian—she’s a buddy, a mentor, a shoulder to cry on, a friend to laugh with, a person you can depend on.
To give you some background about this awesome human being:
Before retiring from nursing, my mom was a school nurse at Ridgeway Elementary for twelve years. She became good friends with Debbie—a Ravens and Orioles fanatic who wears purple probably…..carry the oneeee….360 days out of the year. This friendship eventually landed Debbie a spot as our “adopted” family member since she doesn’t have much family of her own and well, we love her like our own. She joins us for family parties, holidays, cookouts in the summer—I even invited her to my sister’s bachelorette weekend which Debbie still describes at one of the “most fun nights of her life.” I have photos of her dancing near a guy who randomly took his shirt off to support this.
We’ve been by Debbie's side through a lot of not-so-great times—her husband leaving her for another woman, her 21-year-old daughter unexpectedly passing away a couple years ago, and most recently, Debbie’s diagnosis of melanoma which has quickly spread to her brain.
Through all of this, Debbie has been more worried if she can still work so she can afford to live, and more worried about providing for her young son, Greg. She's more worried about everyone than she is herself.
But this is who she is.
While it’s easier to feel sorry for yourself in this battle—give in, be weak—Debbie has proven she is not most people. Through smiles, jokes, tears and hugs, Debbie has stayed strong, optimistic, and fearless through treatments and one emotional diagnosis after another.
Debbie is family, and if you ever meet her, you’ll understand why it’s so easy to love her. She’d take her shirt off her back for anyone—knowing she can’t even afford a new one to replace it. We can’t take away her cancer, or promise that she’ll beat it to live a long life, but we can ease some of the stress from medical bills, expensive medicines, and anything else that's unexpected.
If there’s anything you can spare to help—even just a dollar or two, every bit goes a long way, and means a lot.
Debbie is currently staying and being treated at University Of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore. She has her first brain surgery on September 29th, and is staying positive. I'll try to update this as often as I can, but please keep her in your thoughts, prayers, send her good vibes—you know, whatever it is that you do.
Thank you! <3
Debbie is a chief custodian. She’s not a janitor. She’s not a “garbage lady”—she’s a chief custodian. At least that’s what she tells all of the little kids at Ridgeway Elementary where she previously worked two jobs just to make ends meet. Debbie: Custodian-Extraordinaire by day, former After School Mentor by night.
But what most people know about Debbie is that she's way more than a custodian—she’s a buddy, a mentor, a shoulder to cry on, a friend to laugh with, a person you can depend on.
To give you some background about this awesome human being:
Before retiring from nursing, my mom was a school nurse at Ridgeway Elementary for twelve years. She became good friends with Debbie—a Ravens and Orioles fanatic who wears purple probably…..carry the oneeee….360 days out of the year. This friendship eventually landed Debbie a spot as our “adopted” family member since she doesn’t have much family of her own and well, we love her like our own. She joins us for family parties, holidays, cookouts in the summer—I even invited her to my sister’s bachelorette weekend which Debbie still describes at one of the “most fun nights of her life.” I have photos of her dancing near a guy who randomly took his shirt off to support this.
We’ve been by Debbie's side through a lot of not-so-great times—her husband leaving her for another woman, her 21-year-old daughter unexpectedly passing away a couple years ago, and most recently, Debbie’s diagnosis of melanoma which has quickly spread to her brain.
Through all of this, Debbie has been more worried if she can still work so she can afford to live, and more worried about providing for her young son, Greg. She's more worried about everyone than she is herself.
But this is who she is.
While it’s easier to feel sorry for yourself in this battle—give in, be weak—Debbie has proven she is not most people. Through smiles, jokes, tears and hugs, Debbie has stayed strong, optimistic, and fearless through treatments and one emotional diagnosis after another.
Debbie is family, and if you ever meet her, you’ll understand why it’s so easy to love her. She’d take her shirt off her back for anyone—knowing she can’t even afford a new one to replace it. We can’t take away her cancer, or promise that she’ll beat it to live a long life, but we can ease some of the stress from medical bills, expensive medicines, and anything else that's unexpected.
If there’s anything you can spare to help—even just a dollar or two, every bit goes a long way, and means a lot.
Debbie is currently staying and being treated at University Of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore. She has her first brain surgery on September 29th, and is staying positive. I'll try to update this as often as I can, but please keep her in your thoughts, prayers, send her good vibes—you know, whatever it is that you do.
Thank you! <3
Organizer and beneficiary
Amanda Ozarowski
Organizer
Baltimore, MD
Deborah Harvey
Beneficiary