Three-year-old Talia Pleasant loves riding her bike, watching “Dora the Explorer” and spending time with her family. She loves opening presents. She can count to 17 in English and Spanish.
Talia also has two malignant tumors in her brain.
Diagnosed with choroid plexus carcinoma, or malignant brain tumors, in April 2005, Talia went through chemotherapy and radiation. Six months after Talia was proclaimed cancer-free, her father, Jerome Pleasant, was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a bone cancer that affected his jaw. Part of the bone in his jaw and some of his teeth had to be removed. Then another tumor was found in Talia?s abdomen. After surgery to remove that, three more tumors were found in her brain.
Hospital bills began to pile up. Jerome was unable to work because of his illness, and the family had little disability money coming in.
With only $5 to her name and facing an eviction notice, Talia?s mother, Leda Pleasant, ran into another mother at Johns Hopkins whose child was also sick. The stranger told Leda about how her family and friends had raised money for medical bills. “She told me she had over $30,000 in the bank in case of emergencies,” Leda said. “I just looked at her like, ?Are you kidding me?? ”
Leda relayed the story to her mother, who in turn began asking local businesses to donate to the Pleasant family cause. When Leda?s mother came to Clare Peterson, Peterson knew she had to do something bigger.
“I just said, ?Let?s think of other things we can do,? ” said Peterson, a mother of two young boys. Through Peterson?s leadership, the community has rallied around the family, participating in seven fundraisers to date, including a car wash, basket bingo and a guest bartending event. The eighth and final fundraiser takes place on Sunday.
“I can?t imagine going through what they are going through,” said Peterson, who was a friend of the family. “Someone had to come to the plate for them, and I am more than happy to do it. I?m glad I was able to be successful for them.”
Talia will soon start a round of whole brain and spine radiation to shrink the tumors remaining in her brain. Jerome still has numerous surgeries ahead of him to reconstruct his jaw.
“We appreciate everything that people have done for us, no matter how big or small, even if they said they were just praying for us,” Leda said. “I don?t know where we would be; we would have nothing. Now we are comfortable enough to pay our bills and get some gifts for our daughter. I?m very thankful for everything.”
You can help
To help the Pleasant family, a fundraiser is being held on Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m. at the American Legion, located at 20 South Marlon Ave. in Essex. Over 30 vendors will participate and a silent auction and raffle will be held.
» Call 410-299-4168 for more information.
