I wrote Eye of the Whale because several of my friends children were being born with birth defects and being diagnosed with cancer.  I wanted to know what was happening to our children and why there was such an increase in childhood cancer (a 26% increase between 1973 and 1999 and a 61% in crease in acute childhood lymphocytic leukemia).  One of the children that inspired this book and that was a constant companion as I was writing was Devan Tatlow.  Devan was diagnosed with leukemia and has recently relapsed.  He needs to have a bone marrow transplant and because of his unusual Indian and Caucasian heritage, he is very hard to match.  You could be the one to save Devan's life or know someone who could.  Please go to www.matchdevan.com and register for the bone marrow bank to save Devan's life and that of so many others.