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• Jayla Cooper is a nine-year-old girl in Texas who is terminally ill with leukemia. In February 2009, she married a 7-year-old boy she met at the Children's Medical Hospital in Dallas. The wedding was symbolic, as the two are too young to legally marry. Doctors believe Jayla will only live for a few more weeks and the parents organized the wedding because it was her final wish.CBS 11: Young Girl With Only Weeks To Live Marries Friend (February 23, 2009) WFAA: Terminally ill girl, 9, marries in dream wedding (February 23, 2009)

• Fast Facts

  1. Nine-year-old girl in Grapevine, TexasCBS 11: Young Girl With Only Weeks To Live Marries Friend (February 23, 2009)
  2. Terminally ill with leukemiaCBS 11: Young Girl With Only Weeks To Live Marries Friend (February 23, 2009)
  3. Doctors believe she will only live for a few more weeksCBS 11: Young Girl With Only Weeks To Live Marries Friend (February 23, 2009)
  4. Married her 7-year-old friend, Jose Griggs, in a symbolic weddingCBS 11: Young Girl With Only Weeks To Live Marries Friend (February 23, 2009)
  5. Jose also has leukemia, but is recoveringCBS 11: Young Girl With Only Weeks To Live Marries Friend (February 23, 2009)
  6. In the ceremony, the two vowed to be friends foreverCBS 11: Young Girl With Only Weeks To Live Marries Friend (February 23, 2009)
  7. Married on February 22, 2009CBS 11: Young Girl With Only Weeks To Live Marries Friend (February 23, 2009)
  8. Jayla has lived with leukemia for two yearsWFAA: Terminally ill girl, 9, marries in dream wedding (February 23, 2009)
  9. Wedding took place at Paradise Cove at Lake Grapevine, TexasWFAA: Terminally ill girl, 9, marries in dream wedding (February 23, 2009)
  10. Their parents traveled with them to Great Wolfe Lodge, a water park resort in Texas, for their honeymoonCBS 11: Young Girl With Only Weeks To Live Marries Friend (February 23, 2009)
  11. Wedding was Jayla's last wishABC Toledo: Terminally ill girl gets wedding of her dreams (February 23, 2009)
  12. Jose's parents say he understands that Jayla is dying and have a hard time dealing with itCBS 11: Young Girl With Only Weeks To Live Marries Friend (February 23, 2009)
  13. Jayla's leukemia was discovered when her parents took her to the doctor for an ear infectionThe Colleyville Courier: Young Girl, Family Fight Leukemia, Odds (September 19, 2008)

• Donations

  The Grapevine Relief and Community Exchange (GRACE), has established a fund in Jayla's name. People who want to give donations can call 817-488-7009.

• Leukemia

  Leukemia is a blood cancer which produces abnormal white blood cells in the bone marrow. Eventually the cancer starts blocking the growth of normal white blood cells important to fight off diseases. Leukemia also overcomes red blood cells and platelets, thereby interfering with the flow of oxygen through the blood. There are several types of leukemia.

• Quotes

  ""She's only nine. All I can do is give her what she wants. I give and give, because I don't know what else to do."" — Lisa Cooper, Jayla's mother

  "He is very cute and I love him." — Jayla Cooper

  "He knows what's going on. He understands that she is going to a better place." — Charla Griggs, Jose's mother

  "He's brighter, happier and more content with all that they go through in the hospital. She changed that, brought it all out [and] opened up a side of him I hadn't seen." — Lawrence Griggs, Jose's father

• Related Pages on Mahalo

  Jose Griggs | Leukemia | Cancer | Jade Goody

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