Tribune Chronicle

GIRARD – A terminally ill woman who started a foundation to grant wishes to other terminally or chronically ill adults has died.

Diana Johnson passed away Sunday at Hospice House in Poland. She was 39.

Johnson was suffering from common variable immune deficiency disorder, a rare condition that destroys the body’s immune system. She was diagnosed as terminal in June 2015, and almost immediately after, came up with the idea of creating a foundation to help other terminally and chronically ill adults that became the Drop in the Bucket Foundation.

“Very proud, but not surprised,” is how Danette Palmer, a member of the foundation’s board, said she feels about how Diana took her diagnosis and turned it into a way to help others in the same situation.

“Diana has always been a very selfless person, always had a very positive outlook on life,” said Danette, who knew Johnson since their time together in the Civil Air Patrol at the Youngstown Air Reserve Station as teens. “I think her experiencing a chronic illness for so long and literally not being able to enjoy a good portion of her adulthood, she saw the need firsthand and knew there wasn’t anything locally that would grant the wish of terminal or chronic adults. Her mindset was, I want a Make-A-Wish for adults.”

The foundation was created in July 2015 and is a fund under the umbrella of the Community Foundation of Western Pennsylvania and Eastern Ohio. It granted its first wish in December to Darlene Fitzgerald of Youngstown, who was terminally ill with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, which caused her to be confined much of her life to home or in a hospital.

Darlene and her two daughters received a day of pampering that included pedicures, manicures and facials at New Dawn Salon and Day Spa, a shopping spree at JCPenney and a shrimp dinner at The Fifth Floor Restaurant in Youngstown.

The foundation will carry on in Diana’s memory. Wish applications are being accepted through Aug. 31. Applications can be found at www.ditbwish.com.

There will be celebration of the one-year anniversary of Drop in the Bucket and of Johnson 6 to 8 p.m. Aug. 4 at Mastropietro Winery in Berlin Center. The event also will be a fundraiser for the organization to grant a second wish, Palmer said.

Calling hours for Johnson will be 5 to 7 p.m. today at Rossi and Lellio Funeral Home in Youngstown. Funeral will be 11 a.m. Thursday at St. Rose Church in Girard.

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