View source for Gruen Von Behrens

{{Orphan|date=January 2016}}

{{Infobox person
| name               = Gruen Von Behrens
| image              = Gruen Von Behrens.jpg 
| caption            = Gruen Von Behrens speaks to students in the Westridge Middle School in Nebraska
| birth_date         = {{Birth date|1977|5|14|mf=y}}
| birth_place        = [[Mattoon, Illinois]], U.S. 
| death_date         = {{Death date and age|2015|9|8|1977|5|14|mf=y}}
| death_place        = [[Stewardson, Illinois]], U.S.
| death_cause        = [[Oral cancer]]
| education          = {{plainlist|
* [[Stewardson-Strasburg High School]] ('95)
* [[Lake Land College]]
}}
| known_for          = Speaking about the dangers of [[smokeless tobacco]] to students across the United States
| spouse             = {{marriage|Sara M. Pruemer|2008}}
}}

'''Gruen Von Behrens''' (May 14, 1977 – September 8, 2015)<ref name=KillTheCan>{{cite web|title=Rest In Peace Gruen VonBehrens|url=http://blog.killthecan.org/2015/09/rest-in-peace-gruen-vonbehrens/|website=The KillTheCan.org Blog|date=9 September 2015 |accessdate=25 January 2016}}</ref> was an American motivational speaker and victim of [[mouth cancer]] caused by [[smokeless tobacco]].<ref name=aacr>{{cite web|title=Gruen Von Behrens, Oral Cancer Survivor|url=http://www.aacr.org/AdvocacyPolicy/GovernmentAffairs/Documents/GruenVonBehrens___EF0C4F.pdf|website=American Association for Cancer Research|accessdate=25 January 2016}}</ref> After his diagnosis and during his multiple treatments, he became nationally known for raising awareness against the dangers of smokeless tobacco use.<ref name=Effingham>{{cite web|title=Gruen VonBehrens|url=http://www.effinghamdailynews.com/obituaries/gruen-vonbehrens/article_7ecb189e-cbdd-5bef-b9bc-7d91d86d6188.html|website=Effingham Daily News|accessdate=25 January 2016}}</ref> He was a national spokesman for [http://wellcommons.com/groups/wellness/2010/mar/5/oral-cancer-survivor-show/ Oral Health America's National Spit Tobacco Education Program] and participated in tobacco awareness campaigns, such as the [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJsAmJC9oOw Campaign for Tobacco-free Kids] and  [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YvpFJ6QEYdU The Truth Campaign].

As part of his efforts, he spoke to high school and junior high school students in all 50 [[U.S. state]]s and 10 Canadian provinces.<ref name=aacr /> In 2010, he testified before a U.S. Senate hearing about the dangers of tobacco in professional sports.<ref name=Effingham />

Von Behrens died of mouth cancer at the age of 38.

== Early life and education==
Von Behrens was born on May 14, 1977, in [[Mattoon, Illinois]], to Tina (Zike) Von Behrens. He grew up in the small town of [[Stewardson, Illinois]]. He graduated from [[Stewardson-Strasburg High School]] in the class of 1995 and later attended [[Lake Land College]] in Mattoon. In his youth, Von Behrens played baseball and wanted to eventually play at the college level.<ref name=WellCommons>{{cite web|last1=Britt|first1=Karrey|title=Oral cancer survivor shows, tells Lawrence teens about dangers of tobacco use|url=http://wellcommons.com/groups/wellness/2010/mar/5/oral-cancer-survivor-show/|website=WellCommons|accessdate=25 January 2016}}</ref> As a teenager, Von Behrens hit .400 for the Stewardson-Strasburg High School Comets and wanted to play for the [[Chicago Cubs]]. [[Ryne Sandberg]] was his hero.<ref name=Boston>{{cite web|last1=Grossfeld|first1=Stan|title=For one youngster, life changed forever|url=http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/articles/2004/07/06/for_one_youngster_life_changed_forever?pg=full|website=Boston Globe|accessdate=25 January 2016}}</ref> By age 17, he was diagnosed with [[oral cancer]]. His battle with cancer forced him to give up his dream of becoming a major league baseball player.<ref name=Ottawa>{{cite web|last1=Clark|first1=Peter|title=Tobacco is no fun, Von Behrens warns|url=http://www.insideottawavalley.com/community-story/3814423-tobacco-is-no-fun-von-behrens-warns/|website=Inside Ottawa Valley|accessdate=25 January 2016}}</ref>

== Personal life ==
Von Behrens’ cancer went into remission when he was 23. He then married Sara M. Pruemer on April 26, 2008. They had two daughters and continued living in Stewardson, Illinois.<ref name=Effingham />

== Public life ==
[[File:Gruen Speaking.jpg|thumb|right|Gruen Von Behrens speaking to students at St. Michaels Catholic School in Indiana]]
Von Behrens was a motivational speaker who devoted part of his life to raising awareness against the dangers of smokeless tobacco use.<ref name=Effingham /> He traveled across the United States working as a national spokesman for [[Oral Health America]]'s National Spit Tobacco Education Program.<ref name=Nevada>{{cite web|title=Nevada Tobacco Free Teens Project|url=http://nevadacancercoalition.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Report_NVTobaccoFreeTeensProject.pdf|website=Nevada Cancer Coalition|accessdate=25 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160131144252/http://nevadacancercoalition.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Report_NVTobaccoFreeTeensProject.pdf|archive-date=31 January 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> As part of his efforts, he spoke to high school and junior high school children in all 50 states and 10 Canadian provinces.<ref name=aacr /> In 2010, he testified before a U.S. Senate hearing about the dangers of tobacco in professional sports. In 2012, Von Behrens testified at a Maryland legislative hearing, urging lawmakers to increase the tobacco tax on cigars and smokeless tobacco to 70%, the same level as the tax rate on cigarettes.<ref name=Bicuspid>{{cite web|title=OC survivor urges tax increase for smokeless tobacco|url=http://www.drbicuspid.com/index.aspx?sec=ser&sub=def&pag=dis&ItemID=310217|website=Dr. Bicuspid|accessdate=25 January 2016}}</ref> He also participated in tobacco awareness campaigns, such as the [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJsAmJC9oOw Campaign for Tobacco-free Kids] and [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YvpFJ6QEYdU The Truth Campaign].

== Health and death ==
[[File:BeforeandafterGruen.jpg|framed|left|Before and after photo of Gruen Von Behrens]]
Von Behrens started [[Dipping tobacco|dipping]] at age 13<ref name=WhyQuit />  and was diagnosed with mouth cancer by age 17.<ref name=Ottawa /> Von Behrens said the cancer began as a white spot, the size of a pinpoint, on the side of his tongue. He said he did not give it a second thought because white spots are not uncommon among chewing tobacco users, but it did not go away. In one of his interviews, he was quoted as saying that one day, his tongue actually split in half because the cancer was inside the tongue and then split it.<ref name=WellCommons />
 
He subsequently endured more than forty operations<ref name=WhyQuit>{{cite web|title=Gruen Von Behrens' Missing Jaw|url=http://whyquit.com/whyquit/A_Gruen.html|website=Why Quit|accessdate=25 January 2016}}</ref> on his face, neck, and mouth, radiation treatments and [[chemotherapy]]. Doctors removed half of his tongue muscles and his jaw. They also took out half of his neck muscles.<ref name=WellCommons /> Doctors took sections of healthy skin from his legs and grafted them to his face and neck.<ref name=Wyoming>{{cite web|last1=Orr|first1=Becky|title=Chewing tobacco addiction forever changed life and looks of teenager|url=http://www.wyomingnews.com/news/article_3bb9f121-70b6-545b-94ff-530b018e4485.html|website=Wyoming Tribune Eagle|accessdate=25 January 2016}}</ref> Because of radiation treatments, all of his teeth were removed, and at age 19, he had to start using [[dentures]]. His lower jaw was replaced with fibula bone from his lower leg.<ref name=WellCommons /> He was left severely disfigured by the surgeries.<ref name=Ottawa /> After a long battle with [[mouth cancer]], Von Behrens died in his home in Stewardson, Illinois, on September 8, 2015, at age 38.<ref name=Effingham />

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{commons category-inline}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Von Behrens, Gruen}}
[[Category:1977 births]]
[[Category:2015 deaths]]
[[Category:American motivational speakers]]
[[Category:Deaths from oral cancer]]
[[Category:Deaths from cancer in Illinois]]
[[Category:Anti-smoking activists]]