 |
||||||||
 |
||||||||
|
||||||||
|
Classmates pitching in to keep Taylor healthy, happy
By MICHELE MILLER © St. Petersburg Times, published February 14, 2001 LUTZ -- Five-year-old Taylor Johnson was busy making pink Valentine hearts in her classroom when the "motion-activated singing sensation, Billy Bass," started his rendition of Take Me to the River for the umpteenth time. The novelty toy, propped up on a bright blue climbing loft, had been brought to school by Taylor's classmate, Tyler Sommer, who was one of last week's "Stars of the Week" at Kids' Stuff Preschool and Daycare. While teacher Judy DeFriese was debating about giving Billy a little break, Taylor was nothing less than enthusiastic about singing along one more time. "I love that thing," Taylor said, her blue eyes sparkling as she sang Billy's other selection, Don't Worry, Be Happy. Judging by her steady smile, Don't Worry, Be Happy could be Taylor's life philosophy. There's little doubt that the little girl who loves the color pink, Britney Spears, Winnie the Pooh and being a big sister to her 3-year-old brother Landon, has learned the importance of living in the day. "She's a very sweet and popular little girl," DeFriese said. "She's enthusiastic about everything -- she loves trying everything. She's always smiling, always happy. She doesn't act sick at all." If not for the short fluffy tufts of blond hair now sprouting back, it would be hard to imagine that Taylor had spent the past 16 months undergoing treatment for neuroblastoma, an aggressive form of childhood cancer. Her mother, Angie, says Taylor has been a trouper through surgery to remove an abdominal tumor, six rounds of chemotherapy, radiation treatments, two stem cell transplants, and now a special anti-body treatment -- a clinical trial -- that has Taylor and her mother traveling to Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York every three months. Taylor now is in remission; the new treatment has been a ray of hope against a disease that's hard to keep in check. But the cost of traveling to New York, along with other medical expenses not covered by health insurance, has weighed heavily on the family's finances. The family of four has to make due on Jeff Johnson's salary as a Air Conditioning technician. Angie can no longer work because her time must be split between being a mom and taking care of Taylor's medical needs. It's been a tough go, but along the way there has been help from the community. Parishioners at Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church in Land O'Lakes, where the family worships, have hosted fundraising bake sales to help out. "Everyone's been really wonderful," Taylor's mother said. But that money, along with funds raised by the folks in the Johnson's hometown of Mabel, Minn., is nearly gone. "We just keep paying the minimum (payments on medical bills)," Angie said. "The last time I added up the bills it was over $40,000. I don't do that anymore." Now families at Kids' Stuff are pitching in. This week the school is sponsoring a "Friendship Bike-a-thon" to help raise funds for the family. Students will be riding their bikes for 20 minutes for pledges that they've raised. All children in the day and after-school programs will participate, said DeFriese. Both parents and children have been touched by Taylor's sweet disposition, DeFriese said. "They kept coming to me and asking, "What can we do to help?' " The bike-a-thon seemed like a good idea. There's the thrill for the children of being able to decorate and bring their bikes to school, said DeFriese, who has also taken the opportunity to use the bike-a-thon as a teaching tool. "We're incorporating it into our Valentine/Friendship/Love unit so the children can learn the importance of taking care of our friends," DeFriese said. Taylor, as usual, was upbeat about the bike-a-thon, which will be held for students in her classroom today. "I'm going to decorate my Barbie Bike," she said, smiling brightly and doling out another "I Love You" valentine. "And you better be there." How to helpTo help out, donations may be made to the Taylor Johnson Trust Fund at SouthTrust Bank, 21780 State Rd. 54, Lutz, Florida 33549, account number 746-664-09.
 © 2006 • All Rights Reserved • Tampa Bay Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111 
|
From today's Pasco Times |
