The Pasley Family Searches for Strength after Twins Go Five Rounds with Pediatric Cancer
In the fall of 1998, one-year-old identical twins, Jade and Jillian Pasley, both got ear infections. Normal for infants; yet, Jade’s infection would not clear up. Her doctors changed antibiotics, performed blood work and conducted other tests. In February 1999, she was finally diagnosed with acute myolegenous leukemia (AML). Cancer was in her blood and bone marrow.
Jade’s mother, Jessica; father, Irvin; five-year-old brother, Myles and Jillian were tested as marrow donors. None of the Pasleys were a match. However, the results dealt Jessica and Irvin another shocking blow, Jillian had the same translocations that could develop into AML, though there was no evidence of cancer at the time.
Jade started treatment immediately, spending months in the hospital and participating in a clinical trial that drove her cancer into remission. Soon after, Jillian’s cancer showed up and Jade relapsed. The Pasleys now had two girls in the hospital at the same time.
Jade began the process for a bone marrow transplant while Jillian learned the chemo ropes, responding well to treatment. Jade received a transplant on November 20, 1999. But within two months, she relapsed again. This time, there were no more treatment options available. Jade died on February 4, 2000.
Still reeling from the shock of having two children with cancer, one lost to the disease, Jessica and Irvin focused on Jillian’s recuperation and Myles. They were nearing Jillian’s two-year remission anniversary when bad news came once again. Jillian had relapsed and the Pasleys were off to treatment and in search of another bone marrow donor. She received her transplant in July 2002.
In June 2004, Jillian’s cancer returned in the form of chloroma, a mass of cells in her sinus cavities. She underwent radiation and a second transplant on September 24. Today, Jillian is nine years old and doing well in the third grade.
Having experienced cancer with two children a total of five times has been overwhelming to the family. Jessica and Irvin found strength from their children to handle the diagnoses, treatments, side effects and levels of isolation.
In the January issue of Redbook magazine, the Pasleys discuss the toll of their cancer journey on their marriage and how their love has survived. The couple credits a therapy retreat for helping them to reconnect and understand each other’s coping skills.
To help other families with children in active treatment, the Pasleys created “Jade’s Fund” at Vanderbilt Ingram Cancer Center/Vanderbilt Children's Hospital. Since 2002, Jade’s Fund has helped more than 300 families, many more than once, with non-medical expenses. To support the fund, Jessica and Irvin hold a fundraiser called “Night of Jade.” In three years, they’ve raised more than $300,000.
The Pasleys also hold bone marrow drives in their home town of Nashville, TN to encourage minorities to register for the National Marrow Donor Program. Jessica and Jillian have even appeared on The Today Show to raise awareness of the need for minority donors. Their dream is to have Oprah Winfrey challenge the minority community to become committed members of the registry.