One of my first columns back in 2014, introduced Taylor Harding, a teen living on Stanmore Road with her mother, Mary Mattes, and younger brother, Nate, in the house where Mary grew up. We celebrated with Taylor as she completed the toughest hurdle in her fight against the Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia she was diagnosed with in 2012.
Taylor is now 16. She loves listening to Adam Levine. She enjoys watching Orioles games and playing mini golf, and making crafts. Because she is a normal 16-year-old girl. Except for the cancer. And all the doctor's appointments and medications and hospital stays and blood transfusions and, and, and. She's been on maintenance chemotherapy for the last year, with two more years to go, and the drugs are causing problems.
Let's consider that for a moment. I have four children and it is entirely too overwhelming to contemplate any deeper than surface level. But it seems not to get Taylor down. "Taylor is a sweet kid and such a trooper," said Jill Fisher, Taylor's Stanmore Road neighbor. "She's been through so much and still manages to keep a smile on her face. She is an inspiration and deserves all the love and support we can provide." Many in the community agree. I know because Mary reached out for help and we responded.
Many of us know how incredibly difficult it is to admit we even need help. And then actually taking the next step and ask … it's akin to wearing cement shoes while running on the beach. We have that Super Hero, I- Can-Do-It-Myself mentality embedded into our DNA at least 14 generations deep.
Mary is no different. She is the sole caregiver for her critically ill child and much of her time is spent transporting, administering, aiding, etc. Because of her role as caregiver, she is unable to work. But medical bills were piling up along with normal household bills and Mary realized she was drowning. She took a chance, reached out to the community for support, and people responded.
Neighbors all around Towson have contributed to an online Give Forward fund for Taylor. The generosity is inspirational. Dawn and Ken Guttman, Yarmouth Road, Wiltondale, donated because "we felt we wanted to help," Dawn said. She knows the struggles for families fighting cancer. She's an oncology nurse. "I've seen so many patients and their families struggle due to financial difficulties related to their medical bills. Money should be the least of their worries when they are dealing with something as serious and emotionally draining as cancer."
Erin Hagar, Regester Avenue, Rodgers Forge, donated because, "Even dealing with routine illnesses can be stressful and scary for parents, and I can't imagine the anxiety they are going through. I'm so happy our community can come together to ease even a tiny bit of that burden."
So far the Giving Forward campaign has raised 63 percent of the $6,000 goal. If you would like to donate to the fund: http://gfwd.at/1Fof7Gb
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