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Talia Marie Pleasant 
Welcome to Talias Web Page. It has been provided to keep people updated about our Child. Talia was diagnosed with a rare brain tumor called Choroid Plexus Carcinoma, in May 2005. She had surgery to remove the tumor, and it was completely removed. 6 months later her daddy was diagnoes with Osteosarcoma. He had several major surgeries, but has been cancer free for almost 3 years. We prayed and thought that was the end, until April 2006 Talia was diagnosed with Adrenalcortical Carcinoma. She had a total resection for that tumor as well. She then had a routine MRI of her brain, and the Dr.'s discovered another brain tumor. So almost a year to the day, she had surgery to remove that tumor, and they only removed about 50% of it. She was scheduled to have radiation, to help shrink that tumor, but during that treatment they found 2 more tumors located at the original site of her first cancer. So it has been decided to stop radiation, and go forward, with Chemotherapy. since then, the ACC cancer has relapsed twice in her lungs, which both times were successfully removed by surgery. But recently she was scanned, and 2 tumors were found in her liver. The did a procedure called embolization, which shrinks the tumors. It was successful for Talia, but the scan also showed the cancer was back in her lungs for the third time. Surgery is not an option at this point, because of the location of the tumors. We were told that Talia had 2 to 3 months to live. A week after that meeting, her doctor called to inform us that a clinical trial had opened up. So right now Talia is recieving an antibody drug every Thursday. We are praying that this is the miracle Talia needs. Please keep our daughter in your prayers. Please Sign the Guestbook, at the bottom of the page, and let Talia know you were here. God Bless
The Pleasant Family"
Any Donations can be made to
The Talia Pleasant Cancer Fund M&T Bank 1409 Pulaski Highway Edgewood, MD 21040
WHAT CANCER CANNOT DO
Cancer is so limited....
It cannot cripple Love,
It cannot shatter hope,
It cannot corrode faith,
It cannot destroy peace,
It cannot kill friendship,
It cannot suppress memories,
It cannot silence courage,
It cannot invade the Soul,
It cannot steal Eternal Life,
It cannot conquer the spirit.
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HOPE TO SEE YOU ALL THERE!!! TAKE CARE!
Journal
Monday, June 30, 2008 4:57 PM CDT Hello to Everyone.
First I want to thank all who has followed Talia's Journey through these hard but wonderful 3 years. We have met some beautiful, amazing people. Talia has brought together so many of us, and taught us how to love in ways we never thought was possible. She may not have known this while here on earth, but she now knows this in heaven.
For all of you who still check on the page because thats what your used to doing...I know it's strange to not see an update. But it is just as strange to me, not writing in here as much as I did. It was a release for me, and my feelings. It helped so much. I think I will continue to update once in awhile, to let all the people we have met throught this site, know how things are going after her passing.
Well...lets start at the beginning of the end. It was Friday, May 23rd at 12:00 in the morning. Talia had been acting very strange. Yelling, and screaming...for what seemed to be no reason at all. She wasnt complaing about pain, she was just yelling out Mommy! and Daddy! over and over again. Her eyes could not focus, and times I think she didnt even know where she was. By that time, I had called the hospice nurse. She came straight over, and told us that what she was experiencing was called "terminal aggitation." My heart dropped when I heard that. We then had to make a decision on whether or not to take her to the hospital or keep her home. Well she was completely miserable at home, and not even the morphine, could get her to go to sleep. We took her to the ER around 1:30am, they wanted to give her Ativan to calm her down, and hopefully put her to sleep, so she could get some rest. Well...her blood pressure was very low, and they could not give it to her unless it started to come up. You could not even imagine the agony and heartache, that we all felt, as we watched her scream, and yell for 5 hours. She just could not get to sleep. A nurse that used to work on the oncology floor, that we know very well, had transferred down to the ER, which made us feel better, because it was someone we were comfortable with, and she knew Talia. She told us that Talia was hallucinating, and that is was because the cancer was getting that bad. Finally around 6:00 that morning, they gave her Ativan, and it knocked her out. They transported her to the Oncology floor. I started to call friends and family, to inform them, that Talia was not doing well. Everyone rushed up to see her, and support us. Even though in my heart I knew that the worst was about to happen, I never let go of any hope that a miracle could happen to her. Then the doctors told us that, her body was tired, and that she would probably pass sometime over the weekend. I felt my whole world crash on top of me when I heard that. Talia stayed very comfortable on the meds. When she would start to move a little or grunt, they would give her more meds, and she would go back to sleep. Talia's oncologist, Dr. Capitini, stopped by to say his goodbyes. He stayed for a few hours, talking with us, holding Talia's hand, and playing with my friend, Holly's girls. That night, was the most scary night I have ever had in my life, especially when people started to go home, and I felt alone, like I had to deal with this all by myself. My worst fear, was that she would pass while I was sleeping. Which I slept in the bed with her, soaking up every look I could of her. She lay there so peaceful and beautiful, words cannot describe. Also I did not want her to struggle, when it was the end for her, and I did not want her to feel any pain. I also secretly wanted it to be only Jerome and I in the room, because we were the ones who lived this life for 3 years. Throughout the night, I would wake up and look at the monitor, and notice her heartrate was lower and lower. Each time I would ask the nurse about it, they would assure me that, yes it was low, but she was stable. Which was so far from the truth. I finally woke up around 12:30pm, and the room was dark from the shades being down. And I called my mother to come down right away. And Jerome's brother and friend happen to come by. I didnt say much to them, and I guess they got the hint, because they left 5 minutes later. I looked at Jerome and told him that I wanted to hold her, but that I needed to use the bathroom first. When I came out, I noticed immediatly that her breathing was shallow. But she was still breathing. I felt her diaper, and it felt full, so I wanted to change her. Before I could change her...I stared at her for a few seconds, and watched what would be her last breath. I screamed for the nurses, and a doctor came in. She said she would feel for a pulse. And I felt like she was talking and moving in slow motion. I could of strangled her. I jumped in the bed, trying to lay with Talia, and I look up, and the woman tells me...shes gone. I grabbed Talia and held her, screaming to the top of my lungs, how much I loved her. And how sorry I was, that Mommy couldnt help her the way I wanted to. It was an out of body experience, I just cant explain. Nothing can prepare you. I immediatly yell at the doctor to help her now!! And she informed me that..."as far as we were told, you did not want to recucitate her, if it was from the cancer." In my mind I knew I had said that, but I just couldnt handle the fact that no one was helping her. I looked at Jerome and asked him what he wanted, and we just looked at each other, and knew we had to let her go. I just couldnt imagine them violently pushing on her chest, and blowing air into her lungs. Basically my point is...that Talia gave her mommy what she wanted, and God made sure of it. She waited for it to just be her mommy and daddy in the room, she waited for me to wake up, and she went so peacefully without any pain or struggle. It honestly looked like she was sleeping after she had passed. Even moments after her passing, Jerome and I looked at her, and I noticed that she had a smile on her face, that was not there before. That's how I knew my baby was happy again, and could continue being the child she was meant to be in heaven. All friends and family came in to see heaven's newest angel, we got to stay there until about 8:00 that evening. Everyone said the same thing..."How absolutly beautiful she looked." One of the other hardest things, was to see everyones reaction, when they first walked in and saw her laying there. I can remember everyone's face, as if it just happened. Talia's Mom-Mom and Pop-Pop...oh my it was devastating. And Talia's great grandparents...to see their great-grandbaby like that was the hardest. We all hugged, kissed, and played with her hair one last time before leaving. Of course Jerome and I stayed a little longer with our baby. It was one of the hardest things to do...is walk out of that hospital room, without her, knowing she was laying in that bed alone, it just killed me. But there was nothing I could do......I know had to go home....and learn to live my life without her physical body around me.
The first couple of weeks were the hardest. I couldnt even go into her room, I had to have people go get my clothes for me. I still dont sleep in there, but I do go in there often. It makes me think about her, and the wonderful things, she has done in her life. I miss her so bad, it physically hurts every part of my body. I long to touch her, smell her, kiss her, and laugh with her. And most of all to hear her little Minnie Mouse voice.
The first viewing, was so intense. There were so many people to see her, that there was a line wrapping around the funeral home. People waited 45 mins to an hour just to view my angel. The next day was her last viewing, and funeral. It was a beautiful service, and very emotional. As Jerome and I got to say our last goodbyes, and seal the casket...everyone was waiting for us outside...you could hear the loudest thunder, and it was raining so hard. The put Talia in the hearse, and I drove in there with her. The funeral director, told me that this is the most people he had seen come out for a childs death. That was amazing to me! To know Talia had such an impact. By the time we got to the cemetary, the storm had calmed down to a tolerable rain. Everyone placed a flower of her coffin, and we said goodbye. As I walked back to the car, I looked up in the sky to the left of my, and the sky was dark with clouds all around us....except for this one little hole of sunshine poking through, and the rain stopped. My baby was telling me to go, that the cemetary was not where she was, she was somewhere more grand then I could ever imagine. For the rest of the day, it was sunny, warm, and beautiful. Just like Talia would have wanted it. And on the way home, I saw a cloud in the shape of angel wings. How amazing is that??
I think of Talia everyday, and miss her so much. But the only thing that gets me through this devastation, is that, her absence is not forever. I WILL see my baby again! And when I do it will be the best thing that has ever happened to me. Talia truly was an angel here on earth, so God wanted to make it official, and called her to heaven, where her gave her, her own set of wings. I know she was needed for more important things, that I cannot understand yet.
Also, Talia was buried at Holly Hills Memorial Gardens, in Essex MD, on Bird River Road. We do not have a marker for her yet, as that will take some time. But there is something there with her name on it. That is for anyone who would like to visit her grave. But as I said before Talia is not in that grave, she is in all of our hearts. She is offically everyones Angel.
And to the Davis Family...I know she had the best angel to come show her the way to heaven, and show her around. Thank you for being there for us. You truly are amazing parents. And I learned so much from you guys. Thank you, and we love you!!
Talia loves all of you, and now knows the love and support that poured in from all over.
Take Care, Everyone...
Love Always!
Read Journal History
Hospital Information: Patient Room: Johns Hopkins Childrens Hospital/Pediatric Oncology (But were home for a few weeks) Home
2231 Hollyneck Road
Baltimore, MD 21221
443-866-9665
Links: http://www.myspace.com/taliasjourney Talias other Webpage
http://www.caringbridge.org/ne/gageedwards Angel Gage (CPC)
http://www.caringbridge.org/pa/trey Angel Trey (CPC)
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