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Our cover this month features Baby of the Year Hailey Ann Trainer. As has been our annual tradition, the EAST COBBER ran a promotion in its fall editions, asking readers to submit photos of their little bundles of joy. From those entries, 11-month-old Hailey was selected to be photographed for the front cover of the January issue. Hailey is the fourth child of Shauna and Mark Trainer, who live in the Plantation Place subdivision.

Shauna sent several photographs of her beautiful daughter, but it was her daughter’s story that stood out. At 8 months old, Hailey was diagnosed with a malignant neoplasm of the cerebellum (brain cancer) on September 25th last year. This is a rare and highly aggressive form of brain cancer. She is currently at Scottish Rite and has been for the past 3 months. She has undergone 2 rounds of chemo, 6 brain surgeries, countless infections and tests but is still holding her own and battling this disease. Hailey has received treatment at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta in the Neurosciences department, Aflac Cancer Center and Blood Disorders Service and the Comprehensive Inpatient Rehabilitation Unit (CIRU).

As Shauna wrote, “I am entering this contest for two reasons, the first being that Hailey is absolutely beautiful. The second reason for entering is that it is my desire now and forever to raise awareness about the need for more childhood cancer research. Through this situation, I have come to be involved with the Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research. It is a non-profit organization that gives 93 cents of every dollar to fund research for childhood cancer. It began in this area 3 years ago and has raised amazing amounts of money for this cause. You can read more about this organization at www.rallyfoundation.org. Hailey Trainer is one of the Rally kids. You can read about her there or at her website at www.caringbridge.org/visit/haileyanntrainer.

With the help of the good Lord, Hailey’s three siblings - five-year-old MacKenzie, four-year-old Dylan, and two-year-old Jason - her father and myself, along with an amazing team of doctors and nurses, we believe she will pull through and be a living miracle to the world. My goal is to spread the word and tell the world about Hailey, childhood cancer, and the power of prayer and positive thinking.”

Since Hailey has been unable to leave the hospital, the photograph was taken at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta CIRU by Amber Rae Johnson.