Chanda, Ronnalda (Ronni), and Deidra
Friends at Chanda's going-away party given by Deidra Dukes
Loren, Kimball, Michelle (Shelli), Chanda at Abrams Family Reunion 2005
Chanda and god-son Michael
?, Chanda, and Melonie (Mel) in Orlando
Chanda 2007
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Pictures of Chanda Through the Years
Chanda, Ronnalda (Ronni), and Deidra
Friends at Chanda's going-away party given by Deidra Dukes
Loren, Kimball, Michelle (Shelli), Chanda at Abrams Family Reunion 2005
Chanda and god-son Michael
?, Chanda, and Melonie (Mel) in Orlando
Chanda 2007
Obsequies for Chanda Nicole Taylor Today at 1 p.m.
- Dear Family, Friends, and Blogger,
As you may know, Chanda succumbed to her illness on Thursday, June 26, 2008. My mother and I are immensely saddened by this development, but take great comfort in knowing that Chanda lived a beautiful life. Chanda would have been 36 on July 7, 2008; however, I knew in my heart that she was going to leave us at 35.
We are so amazed for the tremendous outpouring of love and support that we have received from so many people and cannot put into words just how grateful we are!
I feel like I am operating in slow motion, as I know that Chanda is gone, but I am having difficulty really grasping the magnitude of what that means. I got up around 5:05am as I was unable to rest once again.
If anyone is local and able to come by the service, Chanda will lie in-state at First Iconium Baptist Church beginning at 11:30am, and then the funeral is at 1:00pm. The church is located at 542 Moreland Avenue SE, Atlanta, GA 30316. Afterwards, the burial is at Holly Hill in
Mommy and I love every part of Chanda! Our minds are flooded with so many memories of us as a family from being a big tattle tale in elementary school to being cheerleaders together in high school to visiting her in Orlando. It is all so overwhelming.
http://www.roscoejenkinsfuneralhome.com/index.cfm
http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/obits/stories/2008/06/30/chandra_taylor_cnn_obit.html
Sincerly yours,
Loren A. Taylor
Bereaved Big Sister
Monday, May 26, 2008
Update on Chanda
I just want to take a moment to thank everyone who has been calling, texting, and emailing Mommy and me about Chanda's progress with her journey to recovery. I am sorry that I have not blogged on her behalf in such a long time, but I have felt so exhausted and bedraggled by the entire recovery process!
Chanda is currently undergoing another course of oral chemotherapy, different from the Temador that was initially prescribed. She is currently in a rehabilitation center in Atlanta where she is getting limited physical, occupational, and speech therapies to aid in restoring Chanda to full capacity.
The month of May is almost gone and it feels to us like it lasted for a moment and an eternity...if anyone knows how that is. Let's look back...we flew back early from Orlando because something was obviously very wrong.
After arriving back to Atlanta, we took the Duke doctors' directives and drove straight to Grady Memorial in Atlanta from Hartsville-Jackson airport. Next, we went through a fiasco at Grady emergency, and I would have gone completely nuts if Chanda's trusty pal Kevin Trigg had not kept me company and gotten us some food during the extended, unnecessary wait. At first they were being extremely strict about the rule of only letting one person come back in the emergency department with the patient. Somehow, Mommy (as always) worked it out, and I got to eventually come back around 2 a.m. Chanda had the emergency surgery to remove the cerebral hematoma around 11 a.m. on that Sunday morning of 27 April. The surgical team finished up Chanda's surgery around 3 p.m.; however, we did not see Chanda again until nearly 10 p.m. (yet another long story of inconsideration and bureaucracy).
After maybe 3 days of torture with the ICU at Grady, we got word that the Duke Brain Center had arranged a medical flight from Peachtree-DeKalb airport to Durham where Chanda was hospitalized there just better than a couple of weeks. They allowed Mommy to fly up with her. Next, the ambulance brought Chanda and Mommy back to Atlanta to the rehab facility.
Pray for our strength, particularly Chanda's, first and foremost! Chanda has been through such a tremendous struggle since that day back in November 2007. I hope that you will all unite with us and let our hearts, minds, spirits as we pray for Chanda's healing and deliverance from this afflicting brain cancer. Pray that she will be restored the Lord Christ Jesus. Join us in reading the book of Psalms for Chanda. Also ready the following verses and incorporate them in your prayers this week!
Mark 16:17-18And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover."
Psalm 31:24Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord.
Again, much thanks to ALL of you for your continued prayers and well-wishes. Right now, Chanda is on such a rigorous schedule that she is unable to have visitors at the hospital, but we look forward to having an amazing testimony and celebration.
We also appreciate all of your interest in what is going on with Chanda, but sometimes it is a little overwhelming to recapitulate the details over and over ad nauseum. Some days, I have no energy after talking on the phone with friends and family that mean well, as this whole thing with dealing with an illness is familiar (e.g. Daddy's, Aunt Betty's, Audrey's (Satterwhite), Aunt Louise, and several other close cousins and family friends); however, it is somehow totally different and foreign.
Somehow we have all been tricked into thinking that cancer and extended illnesses behave and subscribe to some manageable formula much like trigonometry. What I mean is that people misperceive that you get diagnosed with cancer; then you get radiation, maybe through in a course of chemotherapy;then you go into remission; and now you are miraculously cured forever...lickity-split...dust your hands off, DONE! That is completely not how it goes. Cancer wages war, a world war...a life's battle. In between the rigorous schedule of methodically taking medications, going to doctor's appointments, receiving treatments, getting testing, going through hospitalizations, suffering set backs, celebrating victories, a lot of things that no one talks about occurs and that is the story. That essentially is the reason for this blog in the first place.
I apologize to Chanda for not having the strength and tenacity to clickity-clank out this journal daily, but I will make an effort to do better.
Lastly, I apologize for typing up such a rambling journal entry; however I am in quite a hurry to fit in everything that I must do today, most importantly getting up to the hospital to visit Chanda and to give Mommy a break.
Loren
Big Sister
Chanda is currently undergoing another course of oral chemotherapy, different from the Temador that was initially prescribed. She is currently in a rehabilitation center in Atlanta where she is getting limited physical, occupational, and speech therapies to aid in restoring Chanda to full capacity.
The month of May is almost gone and it feels to us like it lasted for a moment and an eternity...if anyone knows how that is. Let's look back...we flew back early from Orlando because something was obviously very wrong.
After arriving back to Atlanta, we took the Duke doctors' directives and drove straight to Grady Memorial in Atlanta from Hartsville-Jackson airport. Next, we went through a fiasco at Grady emergency, and I would have gone completely nuts if Chanda's trusty pal Kevin Trigg had not kept me company and gotten us some food during the extended, unnecessary wait. At first they were being extremely strict about the rule of only letting one person come back in the emergency department with the patient. Somehow, Mommy (as always) worked it out, and I got to eventually come back around 2 a.m. Chanda had the emergency surgery to remove the cerebral hematoma around 11 a.m. on that Sunday morning of 27 April. The surgical team finished up Chanda's surgery around 3 p.m.; however, we did not see Chanda again until nearly 10 p.m. (yet another long story of inconsideration and bureaucracy).
After maybe 3 days of torture with the ICU at Grady, we got word that the Duke Brain Center had arranged a medical flight from Peachtree-DeKalb airport to Durham where Chanda was hospitalized there just better than a couple of weeks. They allowed Mommy to fly up with her. Next, the ambulance brought Chanda and Mommy back to Atlanta to the rehab facility.
Pray for our strength, particularly Chanda's, first and foremost! Chanda has been through such a tremendous struggle since that day back in November 2007. I hope that you will all unite with us and let our hearts, minds, spirits as we pray for Chanda's healing and deliverance from this afflicting brain cancer. Pray that she will be restored the Lord Christ Jesus. Join us in reading the book of Psalms for Chanda. Also ready the following verses and incorporate them in your prayers this week!
Mark 16:17-18And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover."
Psalm 31:24Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord.
Again, much thanks to ALL of you for your continued prayers and well-wishes. Right now, Chanda is on such a rigorous schedule that she is unable to have visitors at the hospital, but we look forward to having an amazing testimony and celebration.
We also appreciate all of your interest in what is going on with Chanda, but sometimes it is a little overwhelming to recapitulate the details over and over ad nauseum. Some days, I have no energy after talking on the phone with friends and family that mean well, as this whole thing with dealing with an illness is familiar (e.g. Daddy's, Aunt Betty's, Audrey's (Satterwhite), Aunt Louise, and several other close cousins and family friends); however, it is somehow totally different and foreign.
Somehow we have all been tricked into thinking that cancer and extended illnesses behave and subscribe to some manageable formula much like trigonometry. What I mean is that people misperceive that you get diagnosed with cancer; then you get radiation, maybe through in a course of chemotherapy;then you go into remission; and now you are miraculously cured forever...lickity-split...dust your hands off, DONE! That is completely not how it goes. Cancer wages war, a world war...a life's battle. In between the rigorous schedule of methodically taking medications, going to doctor's appointments, receiving treatments, getting testing, going through hospitalizations, suffering set backs, celebrating victories, a lot of things that no one talks about occurs and that is the story. That essentially is the reason for this blog in the first place.
I apologize to Chanda for not having the strength and tenacity to clickity-clank out this journal daily, but I will make an effort to do better.
Lastly, I apologize for typing up such a rambling journal entry; however I am in quite a hurry to fit in everything that I must do today, most importantly getting up to the hospital to visit Chanda and to give Mommy a break.
Loren
Big Sister
Friday, May 2, 2008
Faith, Trust, and Hope
For all of Chanda's blogging pals, I just wanted to update you on what is going on since it has been a week since she last blogged. As you have read, Chanda has been progressing marvelously and increasing her activities significantly working up to going back to work and getting back into a daily grind of sorts.
Chanda's former boss, Bob Jordan, was so gracious and thoughtful as to offer up his pool house as lodging and provided plane tickets for Chanda, Mommy, and I (Loren) to get some much needed rest and relaxation in the Florida sun. Chanda was absolutely stoked and geared up and ready for the trip to Orlando particularly after speaking to Bob last Wednesday afternoon.
We all participated in the typical ritual of running around like chickens to get washed and packed, but Chanda seemed to be having a somewhat insignificant loss for words on Thursday. It was only things like saying "clicker" instead of wireless card or "calculator" instead of Blackberry/Blackjack, and so forth.
We arose at 3:30am on Friday to leave home by 4:30am so that we could drop off the car and take the shuttle over to the airport. Mommy and I both were a bit troubled by how sleepy and sluggish Chanda was, but she was bound and determined to see all of her friends from the station in Orlando and thank Bob for his hospitality.
Once in Orlando, Chanda was not fairing as well and she had begun dragging her right foot and having a difficult time lifting her legs, which we initially attributed to her increased dosage of Decadron. We contacted the brain tumor center team at Duke to keep them abreast of what was happening and to get further instruction of what to do. By night fall, Chanda was completely zapped and she was just absolutely lethargic.
Bob was disappointed that Chanda was too pooped to socialize, but we figured things would improve in the morning. Unfortunately, this was quite the contrary...Chanda's condition worstened. We somehow helped Chanda to get dressed and by now, Saturday morning, her legs were beyond heavy and it was a feat to get her out of the pool house and by the pool lounge chairs.
Bob had finished making his famous eggs, and we didn't have the heart to tell him that Chanda does not eat eggs, so she bravely shoveled some into her mouth and ate a respectable amount of breakfast. Just so that she would perk up a bit more, I gave her some more fruit and fixed some cheese grits while Bob took his sassy pooch Toto for her grooming.
In about two more hours, maybe at 11am, we noticed that Chanda was becoming unresponsive, and I called the Duke answering service. The intern from the brain tumor center gave me a buzz back and we determined that we needed to return to Atlanta immediately, and he advised me to get her off the plane and to Grady Hospital immediately upon landing back in Atlanta.
With Bob's help, we got to the airport on Saturday afternoon, leaving Orlando about 30 hours ahead of the original schedule, and got Chanda to Grady.
Once we played the exorbitantly long wait in the Grady ER, a CT scan revealed that Chanda had a Cerebral Hematoma and would require emergency surgery at Grady. Roughly 15 long hours after arriving at Grady, the surgical team operated for 4 hours to remove the clots. In a few hours after the surgery, the doctors felt that her condition had stablized.
After a couple of days at Grady, the Duke neurosurgical team got it approved and arranged for transport to Duke via a private medical jet that flew Chanda with Mommy from Peachtree-Dekalb Airport to Durham, NC.
Chanda is slowly improving; however, keep in mind that this process of getting well is a long and trying journey with many bumps in the road! Keep Chanda, Mommy, and I in your prayers and ask God to restore Chanda fully and allow be an inspiration to others where they are battling cancer or merely overcoming life's obstacles and objections! Keep the faith and trust that God will do what he promised when we pray. Hope for many wonderful memories to come.
I love all of your for supporting us, and I will thank you in advance for allowing us time to get situated as we work on getting Chanda well, and also keeping ourselves healthy too.
With great love and appreciation,
Loren
Chanda's Big Sissie
Chanda's former boss, Bob Jordan, was so gracious and thoughtful as to offer up his pool house as lodging and provided plane tickets for Chanda, Mommy, and I (Loren) to get some much needed rest and relaxation in the Florida sun. Chanda was absolutely stoked and geared up and ready for the trip to Orlando particularly after speaking to Bob last Wednesday afternoon.
We all participated in the typical ritual of running around like chickens to get washed and packed, but Chanda seemed to be having a somewhat insignificant loss for words on Thursday. It was only things like saying "clicker" instead of wireless card or "calculator" instead of Blackberry/Blackjack, and so forth.
We arose at 3:30am on Friday to leave home by 4:30am so that we could drop off the car and take the shuttle over to the airport. Mommy and I both were a bit troubled by how sleepy and sluggish Chanda was, but she was bound and determined to see all of her friends from the station in Orlando and thank Bob for his hospitality.
Once in Orlando, Chanda was not fairing as well and she had begun dragging her right foot and having a difficult time lifting her legs, which we initially attributed to her increased dosage of Decadron. We contacted the brain tumor center team at Duke to keep them abreast of what was happening and to get further instruction of what to do. By night fall, Chanda was completely zapped and she was just absolutely lethargic.
Bob was disappointed that Chanda was too pooped to socialize, but we figured things would improve in the morning. Unfortunately, this was quite the contrary...Chanda's condition worstened. We somehow helped Chanda to get dressed and by now, Saturday morning, her legs were beyond heavy and it was a feat to get her out of the pool house and by the pool lounge chairs.
Bob had finished making his famous eggs, and we didn't have the heart to tell him that Chanda does not eat eggs, so she bravely shoveled some into her mouth and ate a respectable amount of breakfast. Just so that she would perk up a bit more, I gave her some more fruit and fixed some cheese grits while Bob took his sassy pooch Toto for her grooming.
In about two more hours, maybe at 11am, we noticed that Chanda was becoming unresponsive, and I called the Duke answering service. The intern from the brain tumor center gave me a buzz back and we determined that we needed to return to Atlanta immediately, and he advised me to get her off the plane and to Grady Hospital immediately upon landing back in Atlanta.
With Bob's help, we got to the airport on Saturday afternoon, leaving Orlando about 30 hours ahead of the original schedule, and got Chanda to Grady.
Once we played the exorbitantly long wait in the Grady ER, a CT scan revealed that Chanda had a Cerebral Hematoma and would require emergency surgery at Grady. Roughly 15 long hours after arriving at Grady, the surgical team operated for 4 hours to remove the clots. In a few hours after the surgery, the doctors felt that her condition had stablized.
After a couple of days at Grady, the Duke neurosurgical team got it approved and arranged for transport to Duke via a private medical jet that flew Chanda with Mommy from Peachtree-Dekalb Airport to Durham, NC.
Chanda is slowly improving; however, keep in mind that this process of getting well is a long and trying journey with many bumps in the road! Keep Chanda, Mommy, and I in your prayers and ask God to restore Chanda fully and allow be an inspiration to others where they are battling cancer or merely overcoming life's obstacles and objections! Keep the faith and trust that God will do what he promised when we pray. Hope for many wonderful memories to come.
I love all of your for supporting us, and I will thank you in advance for allowing us time to get situated as we work on getting Chanda well, and also keeping ourselves healthy too.
With great love and appreciation,
Loren
Chanda's Big Sissie
Friday, April 18, 2008
FUN FRIDAY
I'm just getting back home after a full day of fun. I had lunch with my friend Anissa. She's new to Atlanta and an anchor/reporter at my old station WSB/Channel 2. We met six years ago through the National Association of Black Journalists Anissa, her husband, and three kids just moved here from Mobile. It's great to have another talented journalists and friend in Atlanta.
After lunch, I browsed a bit in Barnes and Noble and bought some stationery then Loren and Mommy met me and I watched them eat lunch.
I had planned to sigh up for the YMCA today but that may have to wait until Monday. Dr. Friedman wants me to start doing water aerobics so the plan is to go three times a week to start. I think I can handle that.
I'll try to update the blog this weekend bu it may not happen til Monday. Oh, before I go, a shout out to my brain tumor friend Lisa. She had a MRI scheduled today and I pray everything will show the tumor is still gone!!
Love to all,
Chanda
After lunch, I browsed a bit in Barnes and Noble and bought some stationery then Loren and Mommy met me and I watched them eat lunch.
I had planned to sigh up for the YMCA today but that may have to wait until Monday. Dr. Friedman wants me to start doing water aerobics so the plan is to go three times a week to start. I think I can handle that.
I'll try to update the blog this weekend bu it may not happen til Monday. Oh, before I go, a shout out to my brain tumor friend Lisa. She had a MRI scheduled today and I pray everything will show the tumor is still gone!!
Love to all,
Chanda
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
I'M BACK IN GEORGIA (UPDATED)
Mommy and I made it back to Newnan around 10:45 last night. We were delayed because we stopped in Greenville, South Carolina to visit my great aunt Jessie who's 93 years old. She's getting forgetful but she remembere my mother of course. Aunt Jessie's children are my mother's double cousins. Aunt Jessie was my grandfather's youngest sister, and her husband Uncle Fletcher was my grandmother's brother. To break it down further, my grandmother Cleora was the sister of Fletcher who was married to Jessie who was my grandfather Joseph's sister. Confused? Yeah, everybody else is too.
Aunt Jessie remembered me too through my father. She was crazy about him and when I told her I was Harold's daughter that was good enough for her.
Anyway, about my doctor's visit, it went well. Dr. Friedman was pleased with my progress. He said I was healing like a 16 year old! Considering I'm nearly 36 that's great! I'll go back to Duke to see the doctors at the Brain Tumor Center in May. That's when they'll do an MRI to make sure the tumor isn't growing again. Of course, we're all prayerful that's not the case.
That's the latest and greatet with me. I hope you have a great hump day!
Love to all,
Chanda
Aunt Jessie remembered me too through my father. She was crazy about him and when I told her I was Harold's daughter that was good enough for her.
Anyway, about my doctor's visit, it went well. Dr. Friedman was pleased with my progress. He said I was healing like a 16 year old! Considering I'm nearly 36 that's great! I'll go back to Duke to see the doctors at the Brain Tumor Center in May. That's when they'll do an MRI to make sure the tumor isn't growing again. Of course, we're all prayerful that's not the case.
That's the latest and greatet with me. I hope you have a great hump day!
Love to all,
Chanda
Monday, April 14, 2008
SOMEWHERE IN NORTH CAROLINA
We're somewhe in North Carolina north of Charlotte but not quite to Durham. Kinda of middle of nowhere USA. I think I told y'all earlier I have an appointment tomorrow with Dr. Allan Friedman, the neurosurgeoon who performed the brain surgery on me six weeks ago. This is the six week follow up and I'm praying that all is going well. I've felt fine so I pray that's a good sign.
We should make it to Durham and our hotel around 8:00 or 8:30 tonight. The appointment tomorrow is at 10:30 am so that means I can sleep in a bit. If all goes well with the appointment, we'll be back on the road by 1:00 pm tomorrow. This is our first road trip to Duke so I'll let you know tomorrow if we plan to do it again. I personally prefer to fly and leave the heavy lifting to someone else. But Mommy thinks driving is more economical. We're saving receipts and we'll let you know.
Love to all,
Chanda
We should make it to Durham and our hotel around 8:00 or 8:30 tonight. The appointment tomorrow is at 10:30 am so that means I can sleep in a bit. If all goes well with the appointment, we'll be back on the road by 1:00 pm tomorrow. This is our first road trip to Duke so I'll let you know tomorrow if we plan to do it again. I personally prefer to fly and leave the heavy lifting to someone else. But Mommy thinks driving is more economical. We're saving receipts and we'll let you know.
Love to all,
Chanda
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