Taylor Jackson
Community Hero 2005
Four-year-old “Tay” gets a kick out of tea parties, dollhouses, treasure hunts, dancing to Disney songs, and playing hide and seek. She has a best friend named Holly and loves all animals, especially her cat, Rico, and fish, Bluey. Her mother, Shelley, says chemotherapy has created a few odd food cravings for Taylor, including a taste for pickle sandwiches and sushi.
Last year, Taylor was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL). Her treatment has been long and intensive, including 14 different chemo drugs, multitudinous daily pills, 26 spinal taps, and monthly steroids that wreak havoc on her body.
What continually amazes Taylor’s family is the young girl’s strength of spirit and incredible sense of humor. On the day Taylor lost all of her hair because of chemo, she flashed her contagious smile, put her hands on her head and said, “Look at me, I’m a basketball!” This hero has taught her family that laughter is great medicine.
“Despite the issues she has faced, Taylor is always doing something to make others feel better,” says her mother. “It’s never about her. She wants to make everyone else as happy as she is. She continually puts us in awe with her compassion and gift of laughter.”
