Author;  All Aboard! How Ollie Tibbles Became a Train

Speaker; Make a Wish Foundation & Children’s Memorial Hospital

“Be who you are, remember you’re a wonderful person and everything happens for a reason. We all have a path in life. You can try to get away, but you’ll still end up on your path.” – Debi Tibbles

Ask any mother what her greatest fear is and you’ll get the same answer; losing a child. Debi Tibbles not only faced this heart wrenching loss, but managed to continue to embrace life and draw on her experience to help others embrace life, too.

Debi’s  journey began in 2002, when she was told that her precious 4 year old son, Ollie, had brain cancer. For the next two years, her life revolved around fighting for her little boy’s life.

She tried to will into fruition what she wanted to be true; that Ollie would beat the odds and live. But Ollie was a very special soul, whose wisdom transcended what Debi prayed wasn’t true.

“Ollie knew he wouldn’t live. He had an awareness way beyond his years. His path was set.”

Debi faced the unthinkable when her beautiful little boy, who was filled with love and light and wanted to grow up to be a train, died on March 26, 2004. Debi became unglued.  “I failed to anticipate the power of grief. I was lost in a black hole. I did not hide my pain and put on a brave face.”

One day as Debi lay in bed she heard her son’s voice singing his favorite song about trains. At first she thought she was losing her mind, but she realized her son was urging her to live and share her message. Debi rose from her bed and began writing All Aboard! How Ollie Tibbles Became a Train.

Since that day Debi has dedicated her life to telling Ollie’s story and sharing her message that one can face insurmountable loss and still continue to love and enjoy life. “I tell people they’re stronger than they realize. I’m honest in saying it will be chaotic and there is no cure, but the love for your child will help you carry on.”

She is on the Speakers Bureau of Children’s Memorial Hospital and the Make-A-Wish Foundation, and she volunteers to help parents who are also facing the loss of a child.

After Ollie’s death, his childhood wish came true. At the Make-A-Wish Grand Ball, Debi was delighted and surprised when a very special gift was unveiled. Metra’s newest locomotive, Engine number 401 was christened Oliver “Ollie” Tibbles.

Ollie would forever be what he had always said he would be–a train.

To learn more about Debi and her work got to debitibbles.com or find her on facebook