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Hope for Tayler Gailey

  • Where we are at - by Lisa

      13 October 2026
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    It’s been a while, so we wanted to share an update on how we are doing.

    Tayler is doing incredibly well and continuing to defy all odds! Her August scan showed "overall improvement"—a world away from her February prognosis. She has regained more use of her left hand, her eyes have improved, and the NG tube is completely gone as she eats and drinks on her own. Because of her rare, "novel" genetic mutation (NTRK3::GBN5 fusion), she is on larotrectinib, a targeted drug shutting down the tumor's growth driver. She is responding well, and we await her next scan in November. Plus, she finishes blood thinners soon. Best of all... she is going back to school tomorrow! 🥲🥰

    My own treatment is also going well. After one final round of chemo this week, I have surgery in about three weeks, and then I'll be on the home stretch. The treatment has had a great response—the lump was no longer palpable just 10 days after the first cycle!

    We are so grateful to Tayler’s big sister and Nana for taking amazing care of her while I've been in treatment. Because of your incredible support on this page, we have been able to secure a mobility van, a hyperbaric chamber, a hydrogen inhalation machine, a transfer chair, a gait trainer, and an arm rehabilitation device. I am constantly searching the world for new trials, believing a cure is around the corner.

    Thank you all for helping us help her. We are eternally grateful xx

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  • Tayler and Lisa - Update by Kat

      26 August 2026
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    It’s been a while since the last page update, so I wanted to share how Tayler and her family are doing.

    Tayler is a warrior, as always. ❤️ She has had some improvement in the use of her left arm and can now proudly raise her middle finger to communicate some feelings very clearly! 😂

    A recent MRI showed that the mass in her brain has reduced slightly in size, which is a positive sign.

    Tayler continues to be lovingly cared for by her wonderful Mum, Lisa, and older sister, Carter. Carter is now relocating permanently to be closer to her family and help with Tayler’s care.

    This support has become even more important as Lisa is now facing her own cancer battle. Her first round of chemotherapy has hit her incredibly hard, and Carter’s help has been an absolute necessity.

    As you can imagine, the financial, physical and emotional costs of this long-term journey are enormous. Carter is having to relocate, Tayler continues to need medical treatment, therapies and support, household bills and all the usual things are piling up and Lisa is unable to work for the foreseeable future while undergoing treatment.

    Lisa is literally my hero. She has carried so much throughout Tayler’s journey and its heartbreaking that she now has to face her own fight. She is the kind of person that is always there for others unasked and never asks for anything for herself.

    Anything you can give to help their amazing family would be so deeply appreciated — and so incredibly deserved.

    Thank you. ❤️

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    • 27/08/2026 by Tim

      Kia ora whanau

      May our lord Jesus bless you's with love and peace.

      Where do I donate

  • Tayler and Lisa - by Carter - 29th July

      29 July 2026
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    It’s been a little while since our last update. Five weeks after completing her 5-day course of radiation, Tayler has just finished an intensive week of physical therapy at the Centre of Movement in Rotorua. She worked incredibly hard, and we’re so proud of how far she’s come.

    The biggest challenge since radiation has been coming off the steroids. Every attempt to reduce them has resulted in another hospital admission. Most recently, Tayler developed blood clots in her lungs—another frightening setback— but continuing her recovery.

    As if this year hasn’t tested our family enough, Mum begins her own breast cancer treatment in just over a week.

    The funds raised through our Givealittle will now help support both Tayler and Lisa throughout their treatment journeys, helping with travel, accommodation, fuel, meals, lost income, medical appointments, and ensuring we can continue to provide the care and support they both need.

    Thank you to everyone who has donated, shared, prayed, or simply checked in. Your kindness has carried our family through the hardest months of our lives, and we are forever grateful. ❤️

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  • Tayler and Lisa - 28th June - Update

      29 June 2026
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    Dear Everybody

    Tayler is now home being cared for by her amazing Mum Lisa. She is glad to be home, but obviously this whole ordeal has been so hard on her both physically and mentally. She went through a big dose of radiation and is feeling the after effects, she has started a targeted drug but its still too early to have any idea of its effects. She is feeling the loss of the independence and mobility she used to have, this has dampened her spirit, which is so hard to see.. The best way Lisa can support her with this is to get her into therapy in Rotorua at the Centre of Movement - to give her the best chance at regaining some independence and sense of self. To get her there we desperately need a mobility vehicle to make things easier on Lisa - with Tayler's now very limited mobility.

    Heartbreakingly in the midst of all this turmoil.. Lisa has received a breast cancer diagnosis. This will require a long and aggressive treatment plan. It really is just so unfair, my heart is hurting for her, Also the timing couldn't be any worse considering Lisa is Tayler's sole carer.

    Please keep donating to help Lisa, to make things as easy as possible, this woman is truly the most amazing, supportive, selfless, strong, fierce mother, she inspires me everyday.. she deserves so much better than what the universe has thrown her. Please 🙏 help, donate, share if you can and keep both Tayler and Lisa in your thoughts.

    Love Kat

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  • Tayler update - 12th June 2026

      13 June 2026
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    After over 3 weeks at Starship and some scary times Tayler is now off all oxygen support, has completed 5 radiation treatments, has been cleared for a puréed diet, and now solid food!

    For someone who was in PICU, on a ventilator, fighting severe pneumonia, a collapsed lung and being discussed in family meetings we never imagined we’d have to have, this feels huge.

    In true Tayler fashion, she has made sure everyone knows exactly what she thinks about it too. After being cleared by the speech language therapist her response was:

    “I told you I could swallow.”

    After coming off oxygen:

    “I told you I can breathe.”

    And then..

    “Now take me home.”

    Followed by:

    “I proved you all wrong.”

    Honestly, that’s been Tayler’s whole life.

    At 2 years old we were told she wouldn’t live to see 3 now at 17 years old she has survived all thst plus15 years of radiation injury and complications, another brainstem tumour diagnosis, severe pneumonia, a collapsed lung, PICU, ventilation .. more challenges than most people will ever face. Yet somehow she still manages to keep her sense of humour, her stubbornness, and her determination.

    We still have a road ahead of us but next stop is.. home..

    We are waiting for the equipment and supports we need at home - so Tay can be safely discharged, which may mean 2 more weeks in hospital while we wait.

    Thank you to every person who has supported us in all the ways through the darkest days. We are forever grateful.

    Never underestimate Tayler.

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  • Tayler's journey update

      26 May 2026
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    Things have been incredibly intense for Tayler and her family the last few days.

    Tayler developed pneumonia just two days before starting treatment. Things escalated quickly — she wasn’t responding to antibiotics and continued to deteriorate. We were airlifted to Waikato, where she ended up on a ventilator with 100% oxygen support and a feeding tube.

    On Thursday night, she was transferred to Starship PICU. By Friday, we were told to gather the family, as they weren’t sure she would make it through the night.

    In the midst of it all, Lisa pushed for a change in antibiotics and an increase in steroids. Thankfully, they agreed — and it seems to have helped. Tay is now down to 35% oxygen and holding her saturations around 97%.

    There are now discussions around palliative radiation in the coming days. This is hard for Tayler and Family - struggling with what the right decision is, knowing where they've been before and how much she has already endured. Watching her go through this is heartbreaking

    Yesterday she was more like herself — asking to go home, asking for food, and even telling her siblings to “kidnap her.” That says everything about where her spirit is at.

    So for now, we follow her lead.

    If anyone deserves a miracle, it’s her ❤️‍🩹💔

    Costs are increasing for Tayler's family, she is in Starship for the forseeable future.. and as you can imagine travel and accommodation costs are not small. All your help, love and support is so needed and appreciated right now x

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  • Update for you all - Tayler - 13/05/26

      13 May 2026
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    One of the hardest parts of this journey is trying to prove how much help Tayler needs.

    The unseen and unrecognized reality at home is beyond hard. Tayler falls daily, and oncee she’s down, she cannot get herself back up. She has scoliosis, a hip replacement, low muscle tone, and neurological symptoms affecting her strength and mobility.

    Taylers Mum is tiny at 40kg, and with existing back damage — is lifting, transferring, catching and caring for Tayler at 71kg, which is no longer safe.

    Despite this, after being assessed we were told there was “nothing more they could offer”

    We would love to get Tayler a Freedom Rise electric standing wheelchair. It would allow her to toilet herself independently again, help her access the kitchen again using the one arm she still has functioning. It would allow her to be back at eye level with everyone instead of always seated. Most importantly, it would help preserve her dignity, her body, and her quality of life for however long we get with her.

    Just three months ago, Tayler was still getting herself to and from school - she has lost so much independence, we truly believe this could make her world feel a little less small.

    The Freedom Rise is not government funded. Our plan was to purchase one ourselves, but recently we had to urgently purchase a portable power chair so we could get her safely to Starship appointments after she lost the ability to safely use her walking frame.

    All your support means more than you can imagine ❤️‍🩹

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  • Update for you all - Tayler - 01/05/26

      1 May 2026
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    Sadly Tayler is being impacted more and more by the day- even with the use of steroids - which are so hard on Tayler both physically and mentally - she is still losing her functions, she doesn't use her left hand much anymore, her eyes are struggling, her balance comes and goes, right side of her face continues to have no feeling so its evident that there is growth happening so there really is no time left for thinking or trying this or that - she has to get radiation underway asap or the only option would be hospice care to look at making her comfortable. So.. Tayler and her family are nervously awaiting the best possible plan to move forward with radiation treatment at Starship, where her and her Mum Lisa will be for many weeks. Tayler hates the idea of hospital but she often talks of " when I am strong again", her opinion is "fine I will just fight this stupid thing" so that is what Tayler and her amazing Mum and family are doing - they will try to fight this stupid thing and hope and pray that a medical breakthrough is just around the corner.

    Funds from this page?? Mobility is a struggle so for safety's sake Lisa needs to look at obtaining equipment to help her safely care for Tayler etc

    Going through something like this is too hard for any of us who haven't been through it to comprehend, let alone going through this a second time in 17 short years.. please keep supporting and sharing to help Tayler's cause. Many thanks to all of you for your love & support.

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