Hawaii Pacific Health Donor Reports Spring 2016 | Page 4

“...The ‘l’ in
aloha
symbolizes the
cancer ribbon
and the color
orange is for
leukemia...”

Taylor Tagatac
CHILDREN’S MIRACLE NETWORK CHAMPION
At age five, Taylor was diagnosed with acute

donor. In February 2011, Taylor was officially

myeloid leukemia (AML), a cancer of the

in remission again. She is now 13 years old,

blood cells. She received chemotherapy and

cancer free, with a passion for cooking,

led as much of a normal life as she could.

playing the drums, riding horses and surfing.

When the doctors said she was in remission,
she and her family were overjoyed. For two
years, Taylor was back to her usual routine,
but then, at 8 years old, she relapsed.

Taylor dreams that one day she can help
other children with the same condition,
by becoming a pediatric oncologist. Help
support the dreams of children like Taylor.

Doctors told her that this time she would
need a bone marrow transplant. The news

TAYLOR’S PIN - “I designed a special Champion pin,

hit hard as this type of treatment typically

the Aloha Surfboard,” which represents my passion

meant a trip to the mainland. But thanks

for surfing in Hawai‘i. The ‘l’ in aloha symbolizes the

to our donor support, Taylor was the first

cancer ribbon and the color orange is for leukemia.

person in Hawai‘i to have the type of bone
marrow treatment she needed here at home.
Taylor’s dad, Frank, was the bone marrow
2

The ‘o’ in aloha is a gold hibiscus to symbolize
childhood cancer.” – Taylor Tagatac