Taylor's Story

My cousin, Taylor, was a normal 12-year-old until she began having headaches in December 2012 and an MRI revealed a brain tumor and stage IV brain cancer.

Taylor immediately went into her first brain surgery and we hoped and prayed. Things looked hopeful as a year of chemo and radiation went by and things seemed to be getting better.

Until late April when she began to have intense headaches and pressure and the doctors did scans and determined that they was nothing more they could do for her and sent her home on pallative care (hospice). Taylor's mother and my cousin, Shawnee, is the strongest person I've ever met. She lived every day and moment for Taylor and gave her everything she could have ever wanted or needed.

When we lost Taylor 3 weeks ago, I felt so helpless. I am over 1000 miles from our family and felt like there was nothing I could do to help or show my love and support. After weeks of grieving, I came up with something that I could do, even if it's small. The doctors and nurses at the University of Iowa Children's Hospital fought for Taylor every day and are only able to do so because of the support of the Children's Miracle Network.

So I decided that I would train for and run a half marathon in Taylor's memory and raise money for this amazing organization that supports so many children who are fighting for their lives, just like Taylor.

If you have the ability and desire to help me to keep Taylor's fighting spirit going and to support the children fighting their own battles in all of the Children's Miracle Network hospitals across the country, please consider donating to my fundraiser.
All of the donations go directly to the Children's Miracle Network and not through me at all so the donation is completely secure (read more about it here!).

And I will update my progress through my training here so you can keep up and we can all remember Taylor together.