Janis Anne Babson (September 9, 1950 – May 12, 1961) was a Canadian girl who received posthumous acclaim with the donation of her corneas for transplant after her death from leukemia at the age of 10.

When her youngest brother fell asleep on her lap, she did not want to wake him and remained in front of the television set when a White Cane Week[1] special aired.

Her parents—Harry Rudolphe (Rudy) Babson, a member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Rita Quinn Babson—knew their daughter was serious about the gift, but it was a big decision for such a young girl.

Despite a change in drugs from methotrexate to mercaptopurine,[3] Janis's condition deteriorated in early 1961 as her leukemia worsened and she was hospitalized and released twice.

The response was immediate: from Ottawa Mayor Charlotte Whitton to retired pharmacist Abe Silver (who created an endowment to Hebrew University in Janis's name for leukemia research)[5][6] to groups and individuals who set a record for the number of pledged donations to the Eye Bank.

[8] Six months earlier, a condensed version had appeared in the June 1963 issue of Reader's Digest entitled The Triumph of Janis Babson.

In addition, her family (mother and siblings) have created a memorial Facebook page where many whose lives were touched by Janis's can leave comments and posts.