Be brave: 11-year-old Louisiana girl shares her story, talks about health challenges to inspire others
WALKER, La. (BRPROUD) — “Girls are brave, no matter what they go through,” said 11-year-old Taylor Hayes.
The Walker resident wants to help other children understand that specific challenges in life are nothing to be ashamed of and they can be overcome. She has published her first book, “A Brave Girl’s Journey.”
“I want everybody to know about my seizures and stuff. Like I had tuberous sclerosis and seizures,” said Taylor.
According to doctors, tuberous sclerosis causes tumors to grow in the brain and other areas of the body and causes epilepsy. Taylor was first diagnosed at six months old when she had her first seizure.
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“We went on this journey of finding out what tuberous sclerosis was and how we can help her as a family,” said Taylor’s mother, Tamekia Hayes.
In Taylor’s book, the sixth-grade student lays out some of the difficulties she faces in school because of her diagnosis. Her passion for art and dancing keeps her going, and she’s one of the top students in her class.
Tamekia Hayes said “She ended the year with the honor roll. Her teachers have been very helpful in helping her with her condition. And she is able to dance and perform and do her art. So it illustrates some of her art in the book.”
Tamekia has also gotten support from the epilepsy foundation in the capital area.
“They’ll come in and do training on what to do in the case of a seizure or how to notice that someone is having a seizure and even how to provide the medication for someone who’s having a seizure,” said Tamekia.
She tells other parents a child’s diagnosis may cause fear and anxiety, but they are not alone.
“Focus on the positive, focus on what they are doing well in life, and just encourage them to continue to grow,” she said.
Taylor is writing another book and plans to publish it later this year.
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