This is our "Why", our beautiful daughter, Taiana 'Ileiane Kimanamo'ui Brown.  In April of 2016, she was diagnosed with Stage 4 Ovarian Cancer (small cell carcinoma of the ovary).  She was just 17 yrs old when she found out that she had a tumor the size of a football growing on her right ovary.  For 18 months she battled through her chemotherapy, surgeries and radiation treatments.  Never once did she complain of the lot she was dealt with.  In fact, she was just the opposite.  Her doctors, nurses, techs and other staff at Primary Children's Hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah, were amazed at how she always had a smile on her face and how she would always manage to lift their spirits through her empathy, kindness and positivity.  She was declared 'Cancer Free' and was able to ring the bell at a party we held for her at the hospital.  She had her whole life ahead of her including an academic scholarship to attend Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah in the fall of 2017.  Unfortunately, about 3 months after being cleared of cancer, we found out that the cancer had come back and spread throughout most of her body.  Our daughter, Taiana aka "Nana" slipped away on the morning of August 12th, 2017.

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She was the reason we decided to start the "Why Not Me Services" agency to contract with the DHS & DSPD to provide services to the disabled community.  She is also the reason we named it as such.  Before one of her many operations, her mother, Melinda, was at her bedside holding her hand and talking to her and said, "Out of all the people to get cancer and all the suffering you're going through, why you out of all people?  You've been the best daughter we could ever wish for and you're a friend to everyone, you excel in school and so loving to others and are always willing to help anyone in need.  Why you Taiana?  Why you out of all people?"  Taiana looked up at her and said, "Why Not Me, mom?"

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Right before she was taken into the OR to have her hysterectomy, we were joking with her and her 2 older brothers that she could always adopt one of their kids and raise them as her own.  She jokingly declined saying they would look and act too much like her brothers.  Then she said that she would adopt kids who really needed it.  She said she would adopt them from an agency or orphanage and would adopt those who were 'special needs' or disabled children.  

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So this is our 'Why'.  Through our agency, we hope to be able to serve the disabled community with the same love, empathy and compassion she had for others.  We also want to establish a perpetual scholarship in her name and be able to fund a few children every year to get their 'wish' through the 'Make a Wish' organization.  Taiana was able to get her 'wish' because of the generosity and kindness of others who saw a need and was able to help.  One of our goals is to be able to return that kind gesture that someone made on her behalf to another child with a 'wish'.  We just want to thank all those who have helped us along the way and especially those who have helped to lift and lighten our burdens.  We are reminded daily when we see our agency name, to always keep our focus on our mission and our "Why".

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If you'd like, please watch her video as she shares her journey.  Thank  you!

 

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