Will your rise to the challenge for Duke Children's?

Your gift this month will be matched dollar for dollar by longtime Duke Children's patient and supporter Donna Cruz Jones in honor of Spina Bifida Awareness Month.

October is Spina Bifida Awareness Month—a time to celebrate the hundreds of thousands of people living with spina bifida. People like longtime Duke Children's patient and supporter Donna Cruz Jones. In the spirit of Standing Apart, Stronger Together, Donna is challenging you to make a gift this month and she will double your donation through her own giving.

Donna was born in the United States Territory of Guam in April of 1976. Her doctors told her family that she’d never be able to walk or talk and that they should commit her to an institution and forget about her.

Donna's family refused to accept the doctors' prognosis, and soon Donna and her family made the long journey from Guam to Duke Hospital in Durham, where her family had found the best spina bifida doctors.

Donna's Duke Children's care team helped her defy the odds. She has had more than 30 surgeries and multiple hospitalizations, but none of that has slowed her down.

Today, she is 44 years old, leads a full life, has testified in front of Congress in support of medical research, and regularly advocates for people with disabilities. She also channels her passions for helping others into tireless support of Duke Children's: she is a generous donor, regularly shares her story at Duke Children's events, and serves as a member of Duke Children's National Leadership Council.

"With every passing year I defy all the negative predictions about what my life would be," Donna says. "I am happy to say I’m part of the first generation [of spina bifida patients] to survive to adulthood.”

Another role Donna loves: being a friend and mentor to the next generation of individuals with spina bifida, like Duke Children's patient Aubrey. Aubrey, is 12 years old and lives in the Raleigh area. Together, Donna and Aubrey have raised awareness for spina bifida research in Washington, DC (pictured above).

Despite the many challenges and surgeries she has faced and will continue to face, Aubrey doesn't let spina bifida define her. She has recently started middle school (she misses getting to go to school in person!), loves animals (especially horses), and has many hobbies, including baking and decorating cakes.

Much like Donna, Aubrey is a beacon of positive energy. The two have formed a special friendship while participating in Duke Children's and spina bifida events.

In honor of her Duke Children's physicians and patients like Aubrey, Donna is matching all donations made in the month of October, up to $5,000.

We need you to rise to the challenge and help us unlock the full potential of Donna’s generosity. These funds will go to support research and care around conditions such as spina bifida, so that kids like Aubrey and those who follow her can continue to live longer, healthier lives.

Will you rise to the challenge? Will you be stronger, together, for Duke Children's today?