Meet Taylor Anne Brewton

 

This is Taylor Brewton. Taylor is the little girl that I running for to honor in the Nike's Women's Marathon in October. I wanted you to be able to put a face to the name.

The following is an excerpt from the Heroes for Children webpage about Taylor.

"In December 2000, Taylor Anne Brewton was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Receiving treatment at Medical City of Dallas, Taylor fought the disease for eleven months, including receiving two stem cell transplants. Taylor 's courageous battle ended on Nov. 26, 2001.

Taylor was three and a half when she was diagnosed with AML. The weekend before she entered the hospital, she was a fun-loving child—healthy and happy. She was the flower girl in her mother’s best friend’s wedding and began showing symptoms of what was thought to be a ear infection. On December 13, 2000, Taylor’s family received the news she had cancer. At the time, her younger sister, Tristyn was 20 months old, and her mother was 8 ½ months pregnant with their third child. Taylor’s second sister, Tessa was born three weeks later.

After testing both siblings, it was discovered that neither sister was a potential bone marrow match for a transplant. Taylor then went through a intense chemotherapy and Total Body Irradiaton before a stem cell transplant from an unrelated donor in early 2001. After a rapid recovery from her transplant, Taylor was released from the hospital to spend time with her family.

That summer, Taylor turned four. Her hair grew back, her health improved, and her happy smile returned. She spent happy times playing with her two sisters. However, on September 13, 2001, Taylor’s family received the crushing news that her cancer had relapsed. The only course of treatment was a repeat of the treatment Taylor had already experienced. After a second stem cell transplant, Taylor lost her fought with leukemia on November 26, 2001.

In her memory, Taylor's Angels, a nonprofit organization in the North Texas area, was created by Taylor’s family. In 2004, Taylor 's Angels hosted a golf tournament and a 5K in Frisco , TX . The money raised by these events as well as other activities provided financial assistance to approximately 100 families in 2004."


I remember Taylor as a resilient little girl with a contagious laugh and a huge smile. Although I did not meet Taylor prior to her AML diagnosis, her attitude and love for life and her family was amazing.

I could sit here and tell you different facts about cancer and how many people are have the disease, but the bottom line is that there is NOT a cure. This is the fact, and until there is a cure more children and adults will continue to loose this battle against cancer.

If you would like to learn more about Taylor or the non-profit organization Heroes for Children (co-founded by Taylor's Mom), please visit the links below.


Read more about Taylor's story with the link below:
http://www.taylor.littlerockkids.com/

Learn about the great non-profit organization co-founded by Taylor's Mom, Larissa:
http://www.heroesforchildren.org/