DAYTON — When 30 of Joyce Durham's friends and family gathered at the Children's Medical Center of Dayton, there was a sunflower-yellow crocheted blanket of a familiar pattern.

Most had received a similar blanket from Durham either at their wedding or the birth of a child.

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Joyce Durham, a retired University of Dayton English professor, was honored Sunday, May 11, at Children's Medical Center of Dayton for her contributions to a children's library in her name. Donations of books, blankets or money are being accepted. Click to enlarge

This one lay amidst the stacks of children's books and blankets to stock a new children's library in honor of Durham, a retired University of Dayton English professor.

The library was a Mother's Day gift from her two daughters on Sunday, May 11.

With the help of friends, her mother's colleagues and former students, Erika Krebs and Kristin Riley gathered more than 250 children's books and more than 50 handmade blankets in two weeks. Durham called it a "conspiracy of goodness."

Krebs and Riley said the project typified their mother's attributes. The books give children hope, they said.

"And every child deserves a security blanket," Krebs said. Maureen Trost, who grew up across the street from the Durhams and considers Joyce Durham her second mother, quickly called on the resources of the Oakwood Mothers. UD colleagues sent out e-mails, getting responses from as far away as Paris. Friends of a friends of friends who know neither Durham nor her family responded.

Aiding sick children, especially those with cancer, is a passion for Durham.

"It has really bothered her, seeing children getting chemo treatments while she is getting hers," Trost said.

Durham has been fighting a rare cancer since late last year. There is a 5 percent survival rate after two years.

But Durham said her concern goes back to when Krebs broke her back when she was 18 and was in a full body cast for several months. She would often spend the night at the hospital, watching late-night television.

"I don't know why they run so many St. Jude (Hospital) ads late at night. But we would lie there in the hospital bed crying over those ads," she said.

The medical center's Family Resource Center is accepting donations of children's books, blankets or money for the Joyce Durham Library. For more information, call (937) 641-3405, or e-mail gifts@childrensdayton.org.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2290 or dpage@DaytonDailyNews.com.

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