Taylor Marti, Greenville IL

Hi, my name is Taylor Marti and I'm 5 years old.  My mommy and daddy's names are Joe and Rachel.  One night I had a nightmare and when I woke up, my face felt funny and my smile was crooked.  Mommy and Daddy took me to Children's Hospital.  They said I had something called Bell's Palsy and that I'd be OK but a couple days later I was back at the hospital.  We had to stay all night.  In the morning they put me in this big machine to take pictures of my head.  I tried to be so brave 'cause Mommy and Daddy looked worried.

We're all still here at the hospital.  Strange people come to my room and take me to other rooms where there are more machines.  Sometimes we get to stay in my room.  They are trying to be so nice but sometimes what they do really hurts and other times it's just scary.  I want to tell them to just leave me alone. 

I don't know what's wrong with me but I've heard them say something about tumors in my brain and my spine.  Mommy and Daddy always look so worried and sad but they still play games with me to make me feel happy.

I had a surgery and my head hurts really bad now.  Mommy and Daddy still look so worried so I keep trying to be brave.  I've heard them say I have to stay here for a while to get medicine for the tumors.  I don't think I'm going to get to go to Kindergarten with my friends this year 'cause I have to keep coming back for a while.

I hate all these machines and medicine and needles but it must be free 'cause Mommy and Daddy don't leave me to go to work now.  They stay here with me EVERY DAY.   I like that part 'cause I hurt sometimes and I'm so sleepy.  I like it when I wake up and they're here. 

I wonder sometimes who's helping Grandma Cindy get eggs from the chicken house and riding the lawn mower with Papa Dale.  I miss playing with my big sister, Natalia, playing games with my cousins and going to Grandma Linda and Papa Linus' house.  I know Papa Steve is going to need my help riding the tractor when he cuts the beans.  I hope they can make it OK without me while I'm in the hospital.

I love Mommy and Daddy so much.  I know they don't like to ask for help or money but if they have to keep bringing me to St Louis every day, they'll be using a lot of gas, eating in different places and missing more work.  So if you could please help them just a little bit, maybe I won't have to worry about them as much.

Oh, I almost forgot.... When you say your prayers,  please say an extra prayer to God to make me all better so I can go home and enjoy being a little boy again.  I know the prayers will work, 'cause Jesus loves me.

Thanks for all you can do
Taylor

NOTE: Taylor was diagnosed with a rare, aggressive childhood brain cancer called Atypical Teratoid Rhabdoid Tumors (AT/RT).  He has three tumors in the lining of his brain and two spots in the lining of his spine.  His treatment will include six weeks of Proton therapy and about a year's worth of inpatient Chemo therapy that will be for an average of one to three days a week.