BIG DAVE'S BIG GIFT

In the News

Big Dave’s Big Gift
A big legacy

April 19, 2010

BY DAWN BAUMGARTNER VAUGHAN

DURHAM -- What will be your legacy? David Turner, who died last year of lymphoma at age 25, laid the groundwork for it during the last weeks of his life.

I wrote a series of stories about Turner beginning March 2009 until his death on June 6, 2009. I interviewed him multiple times in his apartment off of Interstate 85, where he moved from Virginia in 2008 for treatment at Duke. He dealt with round after round of chemotherapy and radiation and plans for a stem cell transplant thwarted by relapse.

Eventually he accepted what was likely to happen, leaned on his renewed faith in God and dedicated friends, and even joked around with his mom in the last month of his life as he tried to eat some spinach. Turner never appeared sickly. If he hadn't told me the pain he was in, I wouldn't have known. He was still the tall basketball player and huge Duke fan with a room dedicated just to Duke basketball paraphernalia. Late in his fight with cancer, J.J. Redick sent a nice e-mail with words of encouragement.

Turner got a tattoo on his arm, Romans 5:3-5, in Roman numerals. He had a necklace for his mom with the Bible verse, which talks about rejoicing in our sufferings because suffering produces perseverance and in turn character and then hope.

I told you all in a column last year, after he died, what he taught me: most importantly that what you leave behind is as important as what you accomplish when you're here. And also that connecting with people and showing your humanity is the honest way to live. Turner shared his story with me, and in turn with you, for a reason. His perseverance indeed showed his character, and now it creates hope for others.

Started by Dave weeks before he died and carried on by his mom, Suzanne, The David Turner Lymphoma Foundation, also known as Big Dave's Big Gift, has just attained 501(c)3 nonprofit status. Donations help fund stem cell transplants for adolescents and young adults who demonstrate financial need. They've already donated grants that Turner couldn't use to others in need of transplants.

The last time I saw Turner he said that he was worried about how his loved ones would deal with his death. This week Suzanne Turner said the best way to describe how she has dealt with the anguish over the loss of her son came from the executive director of the National Transplant Assistance Fund, in a note about Turner's unassuaged pain and utter frustration. The fund created a Legacy Circle of Families program to help "transform grief into energizing legacy."

And so that is what Suzanne Turner has done, along with help from others who care about Dave's legacy.

"David's deep love for me and his constant concern for my well-being and that of his family and friends helps me walk through each day," she said. "He also provides me with a lot of work to do."

The David Turner Lymphoma Foundation is taking off fast, with three fundraisers planned and meetings with the pediatric transplant units at Duke and UNC as the foundation seeks ways to serve area cancer patients.

There's a Big Dave's Bike-A-Thon for kids from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday at Easley Elementary School. The Durham Police Department will be there to talk about bike safety. And there will also be Durham Bulls tickets on sale for the Big Dave's Big Gift Night at the May 27 Bulls game. For details or to donate, visit the website, www.bigdavesbiggift.org.