Jonnae Taylor lost her third battle with leukemia early Monday morning June 9th. Taylor, a 15-year-old Silver Creek High School freshman, celebrated her 100-day milestone since her bone marrow transplant — which was donated by her brother, Nolan — in the end of March. The Evening News and The Tribune talked to the happy, glowing teen then about her remission and her plans for the future, which included owning a car and becoming a veterinarian. About a month later, doctors found out the cancer had returned, according to Taylor’s Web site. Her mother, Denise Taylor, wrote in a journal on the site that doctors said a few cancerous cells may have remained the whole time and later multiplied. Denise wrote on the journal in the end of May that doctors said Jonnae’s organs were too weak from toxicity levels to continue with aggressive chemotherapy, which had been done twice with the leukemia still returning. So, doctors gave two options: to use half the dose, which isn’t likely to do much to fight the disease, or to bring her home for a few comfortable days. So, Jonnae came home. Her family hosted a “celebration of life” June 1, where hundreds of people came to see Jonnae and watch a tribute video dedicated to her. Sunday night, just hours before Jonnae’s death, hundreds of people carrying candles sang and prayed to Jonnae from her front yard, according to the online journal. A memorial service for Jonnae is scheduled for 11 a.m. Thursday at St. Joe Hill Catholic Church in Sellersburg. Her burial will follow at the church cemetery.
Below are links to article written above, Jonnae's Journal Website and the Transformations website where Jonnae's story and her mother are featured.