6 minute read
Profile: Debbie Halpin
Debbie Halpin
The Greatest Warrior
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by Sarah Leslie Gagan
Preparation by Fire “My whole life was preparing me to do this, all my experiences absolutely prepared me for this. And you know you’re doing the right thing when it brings such joy.” These are the heartfelt words of Hopestone Director Debbie Halpin, and this is her story.
Born in upstate New York, the eldest of 3 children, Debbie loved to dance and dreamed of becoming a ballerina. She was introduced to cancer at the age of five, when her father was diagnosed with breast cancer. She recalls standing in the hospital room with her mother and two younger siblings as she overheard the doctor say, “about three months.” She didn’t fully understand the gravity of the prognosis, but clearly remembers her father unzipping the oxygen tent surrounding him, telling the doctor, “I’m going to see my three kids grow up and finish school, and then and only then will I go somewhere.” He left no room for discussion as he zipped up the tent.
Debbie’s father overcame breast cancer, and lived to survive malignant melanoma, lymphoma, and then, at age 39, he became the third person in the United States to be diagnosed with angiosarcoma. He survived one year following a leg amputation, and lived to see all three of his children graduate, exactly as he had set his heart and mind to so many years before. Debbie’s father was only one family member to battle cancer. Cancer also visited the lives of her mother, brother, grandparents, cousin, and several extended family members — and eventually Debbie herself.
At age 34, through an early mammogram and ultrasound, a tiny tumor was found in Debbie’s breast. Through the quick response of a close family friend who was a breast oncology surgeon, the pinhead sized tumor was removed and no further treatment was required. However, while Debbie remained cancer free, she began to have indescribable aches and pains throughout her body which worsened to the point of being immobile and barely able to walk. After months of diagnostic testing, she
received the cause, Rheumatoid Arthritis and Sarcoidosis. Because of a medication allergy, the only treatment option for the Sarcoidosis was chemotherapy, which was grueling but successful.
The Vision Keeper Following chemo, the doctor advised Debbie and her husband Dennis to consider leaving the brutally cold climate of upstate New York for a warmer, drier one. Debbie could no longer physically handle the stairs in their two-story home. Before finalizing plans to build a new single story home in New York, Dennis applied for a position at Truity Credit Union in Bartlesville. After visiting Bartlesville and negotiating new employment details, the Halpin’s moved to Green Country in 2004. The search for a home was on, and after viewing a dozen or so homes in one day, Debbie walked into the last home on the list and was overcome. It was her home, the very same floorplan that they had prepared to build in New York. She knew this was God preparing the way for her.
Debbie was an Assistant Manager for Bartlesville Walmart while volunteering at local charities such as Mary Martha and Employability. A shoulder injury ended her Walmart career, and she began to focus on her volunteer work. In 2014, a close friend encouraged her to meet with Dr. Jennifer McKissick, Hopestone founder, who was searching for someone to run the non-profit. Debbie was uncertain, but agreed to visit Hopestone before deciding. When she walked in the doors of the Hopestone building, she began to get a hot flash sensation that began at her feet and worked its way up her entire body. It was so intense she couldn’t move as she asked her friend, “What is this place?”
She couldn’t get the feeling out of her head and the next day, she hesitantly agreed to meet with Jennifer. From the first smile they shared it was like they were soul sisters. The “interview” lasted eight hours as Jennifer shared her vision and the two exchanged stories. Debbie knew this was more than a job, it was a purpose. Dr. McKissick cast the dream of her vision, and Debbie signed on to make it happen.
The early years of working together were not always smooth for Debbie. In fact, more than once she thought of quitting. After a particularly frustrating day, she was doing laundry and found her father’s shirt in her dryer. In disbelief, she held the shirt in her hands and brought it to her face; it smelled like her father, who had passed some 34 years before. She collapsed to the floor and knew that a power greater than herself was at work. It was as if both her father and God himself were encouraging her to keep going, to not quit her purpose. From that moment forward she never looked back.
The Greatest Warrior Hopestone rapidly outgrew its space, and Debbie began searching for a new building when Jennifer's cancer came back in 2015 as very aggressive Triple Negative breast cancer. Debbie became driven to find the perfect space and began drafting plans so Jennifer could see her dream on paper and know in her heart that it would survive long after she entered eternity. Debbie was drawn to the current building, 206 SE Frank Phillips Blvd., and was able to show it to Jennifer, casting a vision
including architectural floor plans and design. With her body weary from cancer, the light shone from Jennifer’s eyes as she knew her dream was left in the warrior’s hands that God had brought to her. Dr. McKissick died on May 6, 2016, knowing the future of Hopestone would live long after she was gone, because of Debbie.
Due to Debbie’s supervision and the enormous outpouring of community donations and laborers, the new facility opened on Jennifer McKissick’s birthday, January 8, 2017. Debbie Halpin is perhaps the greatest warrior in the cancer battle, as she lives out her purpose to empower those in the cancer community.
“It’s the doctor’s job to kill the cancer, it’s my job to give them hope, support, and the best life possible. I tell them, ‘You work on fighting, let us take care of the day to day details.’ When they come in these doors, they know they are in a space where their struggle is understood, said Debbie. “To get to do this every day and to carry out Jen’s vision. God provides. He is such a huge piece. God helps me do this every day. It’s God’s work, all the glory goes to Him. Yes, sometimes people die, but I know I helped them have the best days possible. How did I ever get so blessed?”
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