p|Jearlean Alston-Taylor was born and raised in Southwest Baltimore, MD. She grew up in a happy home. Her parents have six children. Could they imagine one of their twin daughters would develop a rare form of cancer (Rhabdomysarcoma) at two years old? Doctors thought she would not live beyond the age of three.
Jearlean Alston-Taylor was born and raised in Southwest Baltimore, MD. She grew up in a happy home. Her parents have six children. Could they imagine one of their twin daughters would develop a rare form of cancer at two years old? Doctors thought she would not live beyond the age of three. Although her parents had a sick child that needed medical attention, their family's structure of love and care did not change.
My status as a cancer survivor has shaped my life. When I was 3, I was playing in the backyard with my older sister, who noticed blood spreading across my clothes. She rushed me into the house and told my parents. They took my clothes off and saw a lump hanging from my body., a very rare type of cancer that starts in the soft tissue and is most commonly diagnosed in children and teens. It’s a fast-growing cancer, and my parents were told I might not live past 3.
As I became a teenager and young adult, however, I started wondering about my future. My body was changing and I was questioning different things about my life. Would my friends still accept me? Would I get married one day? Could I have dreams and aspirations? Would I be limited in what I can do? My story is my story. Nobody can tell it like me, but I’ve learned my story also belongs to others. My story belongs to that cancer survivor, that person going through treatments, that person getting ostomy surgery or that person going through the many different emotions I had already gone through. You never know who needs to hear your story and how it can change their life for the better.
When I look back and see that little 3-year-old girl in the backyard and I look at myself now at 56, I know I’ve lived a blessed life. I see how God has opened many doors because I’m a cancer survivor. A lot of people want to know “Who is this model who has two ostomy bags?” I was able to model in different publications, on billboards and on TV. I’m still amazed and sometimes I just ask, “Wow God, are you still showing me my why?”and social media.
Real Women Real Stories Cancer Survivor
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
'Survivor 47' Episode 9 Recap - A Fractured Tribe and Some Survivor JengaThe cast playing Jenga in Survivor 47 Episode 9
Read more »
Reba McEntire became a cowgirl on family ranch at age 5 before country music stardomReba McEntire recalled how she became a cowgirl on her family's ranch at the age of 5. 'The Voice' coach and her siblings grew up on their fathers's 8,000-acre ranch in Chockie, Oklahoma.
Read more »
Local cervical cancer survivor working to eliminate disease by 2030Position: Multimedia Journalist
Read more »
Chula Vista cancer survivor, 9, voices character in new Disney Christmas specialMadrigal is the voice of “Luna,” a lost girl who befriends a lost and injured owl in New York City at Christmas-time.
Read more »
12-year-old cancer survivor surprised on birthday by Cavs, Donovan Mitchell before game against LakersCamryn Justice is a reporter at News 5 Cleveland.
Read more »
Prostate cancer survivor nominated for Whitchurch citizen awardDavid Simcock has helped about 3,500 men get tested for prostate cancer.
Read more »