Paisley Palmer is a cute, one-year-old girl, full of energy and love. Sadly, just after her first birthday party in June, Paisley’s mom and dad received devastating news that their beautiful baby girl had been diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia and would need a blood stem cell transplant to treat it.
Paisley’s parents, like so many others, were unaware that childhood cancer was a potential reality for their daughter. In fact, one in every 285 children is affected by cancer. Reality quickly set in, and the family connected with Be The Match to begin Paisley’s search for a matching donor. Since her diagnosis, the family has spent weeks in the hospital together while Paisley undergoes several rounds of chemotherapy.
Despite these challenges, Paisley remains an optimistic child. One of the family’s favorite activities to do together is to visit Angie's Garden atop the Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital. Paisley takes off on an adventure every time they visit the rooftop. Paisley also loves to dance and she is a huge football fan. Her favorite team is the Cleveland Browns, and she’ll regularly wear jersey number 6 for QB Baker Mayfield. The family hopes to one day take a cancer-free Paisley to see the Browns play in-person.
Paisley’s mom told WKYC Cleveland that “Paisley thinks all of these nurses and doctors are here to hang out and play with her.” Her positive attitude and love of life keeps her parents motivated to fight, too.
In hopes of raising awareness about her daughter’s diagnosis, Paisley’s mom also decided to take her daughter’s diagnosis to Instagram. She hopes that they can raise awareness about childhood cancer and the need for more people to join the Be The Match Registry.
Right now, Paisley has a few matches on the registry, and her family anxiously awaits a confirmed donor to step up to save their child’s life. That’s why her parents are encouraging everyone ages 18-40 to sign up, swab their cheek and help save a life.
Text “SavePaisley” to 61474 or visit https://my.bethematch.org/savepaisley to request a swab kit.
