Over The Rainbow

6:00pm

Over the past 5 months, we have wondered if some things that happened were signs of what was to come. On March 6th, when Taylor was in big trouble, 4 phone calls to 4 friends turned into 50 people at the hospital within an hour. I worried, for a little bit, that God had brought everyone together to be with Taylor if he didn't survive surgery. Then, after surgery and as the night wore on, everyone began to leave and I was convinced then that Taylor would live. I knew God would not let him die alone in ICU when so many people that loved him were right there. Since then, we've taken a lot of signs as hope that there would be better days ahead and there always has been.

This morning, we headed out at 5:30am for the University of Florida for Taylor to meet with a facial nerve expert. On I-75, right after a storm, a rainbow formed in the north toward Gainesville. The rainbow is used in the Bible, by American Indians and even songwriters as a symbol of promise and hope. Judy Garland sang about a happier, brighter place in "Over The Rainbow" in the movie The Wizard of Oz. So, we couldn't help but see this rainbow as a sign of hope - that something good will come from our visit to Gainesville.

The Doctor at Shands in Gainesville (who looked a LOT like Bob Saget) was cautiously optimistic about the rehabilitation of the nerve in Taylor's face. He said because of his age, he would want to wait 9 months after the accident to see what nature does. In the meantime, he suggested inserting gold weights into his left eyelid to help it close completely and to help minimize any potential damage to the cornea that could occur. And, he wants to have an Electromyographic testing done to stimulate the nerve and measure how far down the line the signal travels. That way, they can measure regeneration or degeneration of the nerve. That procedure will be what they'll need in order to know what options are available for Taylor. We'll soon be scheduling to have both procedures done.

On the way back, we stopped at a convenience store in a little town off a 2 lane road 50 miles north of our home. There at the gas pumps was a friend of ours, John Kilpatrick. Always searching for a sign of hope, Suzie decided it was good luck seeing John there. With a name like Kilpatrick, hopefully the Irish good luck will rub off on Taylor. I saw a different sign. I saw it as a sign he was low on fuel and I needed a Pepsi.

At 1:30pm today Taylor got the final foreign object removed from his body - the Feeding Tube. He wasn't real tickled with the four shots he got in his stomach or having a 1 1/2" balloon pulled through a 1/4" hole, but he's glad it's done.

The Wizard of Oz has always been my favorite movie. When I was a kid, I couldn't wait for Judy Garland to quit singing so the good stuff could start. Now that I've read the lyrics to "Over The Rainbow", I realize what a good fit it is for us. We'll now pray for Taylor everytime we see one. We hope you will too.

Over The Rainbow


Somewhere over the rainbow
Way up high
There's a land that I heard of
Once in a lullaby

Somewhere over the rainbow
Skies are blue
And the dreams that you dare to dream
Really do come true

Some day I'll wish upon a star
And wake up where the clouds are far behind me
Where troubles melt like lemondrops
Away above the chimney tops
That's where you'll find me

Somewhere over the rainbow
Bluebirds fly
Birds fly over the rainbow
Why then, oh why can't I?
Some day I'll wish upon a star
And wake up where the clouds are far behind me
Where troubles melt like lemondrops
Away above the chimney tops
That's where you'll find me

Somewhere over the rainbow
Bluebirds fly
Birds fly over the rainbow
Why then, oh why can't I?
If happy little bluebirds fly
Beyond the rainbow
Why, oh why can't I?

Tomorrow: Roadtrip to UF and the Feeding Tube comes out

8:14am

Taylor started at his new rehab place on Friday. There was some testing done so they could measure his progress and he did get in a little work. He said he really likes the Therapists, and is excited to be there.

This weekend he did a LOT of socializing. Friends had a welcome home party for him in Lakeland. He stayed all afternoon and into the early evening. Even though he spent most of the time sitting, it was obvious when I picked him up that he was really tired. It will be a while, apparently, before he builds up stamina.

Tomorrow we head to the University of Florida, leaving at about 5am for his early morning appointment. We're meeting with a Neuro-otologist. Neuro-otology is a sub-specialty of ENT and these surgeons deal specifically with the skull base and cranial nerves including the facial nerve. We are also working on a "remote diagnosis" with an expert from Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, MD. This may include a video conference with Taylor, but we're still in the early stages of all that.

Then, Taylor has an appointment to get the Feeding Tube removed tomorrow afternoon at Lakeland Regional. The Feeding Tube has prevented him from sleeping on his stomach. And, hugging him when standing is a bit of a trick so no pressure is put on the tube.

The future of this Blog

6:39am

A few things became clear during the first few days after Taylor's wreck - he would be in the hospital for a long time, and his friends would be coming to the hospital or calling for updates as long as he was there.

I started this Blog as a way to keep those who wanted to know how he was doing updated. I didn't think at the time about it becoming a diary of sorts, documenting thinks like him opening his eyes on March 11th, making eye contact on March 14th, and mouthing the words "I love you" on March 25th. Then, throughout the following months, the blog documented the ups and downs of his recovery at the hospital and his accomplishments at the physical rehab facility where he lived for 3 months.

Fortunately, I had a wireless laptop connection at the hospital so I could update the blog often, usually every morning. A couple of times I didn't do the update until later in the day. I got an email one day from a friend of ours, Marty Wilson, who asked if I could do the update each morning. He said he began to worry something had happened to Taylor if he didn't see anything by noon. It was those kinds of things that really showed us how concerned folks were about Taylor. And, I knew by the number of visitors to the blog that a lot of people were checking on his progress.

For those that have been following the progress on the blog, you've been able to witness what we know has truly been a Miracle. For Taylor to have been as badly hurt as he was, to have been so close to death as he got, and to come back as he has is truly miraculous. That opinion is shared by those in the medical profession that see these kinds of injuries every day.

It's not a coincidence that Connell Waldron spotted Taylor's car upside down, well off the road in the pitch dark of night. It's not fate that the helicopter was fogged in but decided to go for Taylor at the last minute. It's not dumb luck that Officer Pat Guity of the Lakeland Police Department stopped Taylor's Neurosurgeon, Dr. Campanelli, and let him go within seconds of hearing that he had a patient in big trouble at the hospital. We've counted 9 events that could have made a huge difference in how things turned out for Taylor. We know God saved Taylor and gave us a second chance of having him as our son.

The next major things to happen with Taylor is for the Feeding Tube to be removed and an appointment with a specialist at the University of Florida, Shands Hospital, for the facial nerve issue. He'll soon be off the walker and be walking on his own and other current physical limitations will get better with time.

So, what happens to the Blog? As long as he does something that I think the majority would want to know, and as long as people keep checking the Blog, I'll keep posting the information. I really expected to do it less frequently during his physical rehab, but he did so much so quickly that I was posting more often than I thought I would.

Tomorrow is Taylor's first day at Esteem in Winter Haven. It will probably be a day of assessments. We're expecting a friend filled weekend. Yesterday was a busy day at our house with a steady flow of visitors for Taylor.

Yesterday afternoon, our neighbor Pam Wyant, brought the roast, mashed potatoes and green beans she promised Taylor a month ago. Taylor had a helping before he went out for dinner later. Taylor's friend, Ryan Welles, took Taylor to Sam Seltzer's for steak and lobster - something Taylor has talked about for months. At 12:30am this morning he was having another shot at at Pam's roast. It was obviously a big hit. In fact, I plan on it being breakfast.

Although Taylor's medical issues are behind him, he still has a lot of healing to do, and a lot of physical rehab ahead of him. He continues to need your prayers as he works hard on his rehabilitation.

HE'S HOME!!

4:22am

Taylor is home. Three days short of 5 months, (116 days) and he can sleep in his bed, visit friends without them making the 1 ½ hour round trip to the rehab facility, and pet the cats and dogs whenever he wants.

We had a Limo take 9 of his friends to pick him up yesterday afternoon. Then, as the Limo neared the house, he got a police escort for the final few blocks to a red carpet (really) that led him to our front porch. The Bartow Fire Department had a crew on hand to see the results of efforts of another shift that worked his crash. A “Welcome Home Taylor” banner hung on the front porch and the yard was filled with 50 of his closest friends.

Yesterday was a great day for all of us. For Taylor, it was his first official day home where he could stay more than an hour or so. He had been home between Doctor visits a couple of times, and spent the day last Sunday, but now he can sleep in his bed and hang out with friends whenever he feels like it. For us, we no longer drive to another county to spend the evening and weekends with him.

Now Taylor starts in-patient rehab at Esteem in Winter Haven this coming Friday. He’ll go 3 days a week, and work out at a local gym the other two days a week. We don’t know how long rehab will last, but for now we’re planning on at least through the end of the year. We expect he'll do as well at

Esteem as he did at Lakeland Regional and FINR, so he may be finished sooner.

In the meantime, we’ll continue to work on the facial paralysis issue and pray that his eye continues to heal as it has. His double vision continues to improve. And, we’ll continue with treatment for the hearing loss he’s suffered in the hope that he'll regain some of it.

But, most of all, we’ll continue to love him and thank God for saving his life and returning him to us in a way that he can continue to enjoy life.

Taylor passes the thin liquid test - Feeding Tube to come out

9:24am

This morning Taylor did what we now know is his FINAL swallowing study. He did well. That was on the top 5 of his dislikes. He just wasn't real thrilled having a tube run up his nostril and into the back of his throat.

As soon as he got the all clear, he requested an unopened bottle of Gatorade Rain Lime that we've had ready for him since his days in the Trauma Unit. One of the first things he wrote, back when he couldn't talk, was "Gatorade Rain Lime". So, today he finally got to open the bottle.

The other good news is that Doctor has written an order to remove the Feeding Tube. He won't get that done before he leaves today, but we're working now on finding someone that can remove it ASAP.

Taylor doesn't know it, but he has several surprises this afternoon. Tomorrow I'll post plenty of photos.

48 Hours

5:45pm

Taylor will be home for good in about 48 hours.

He decided yesterday to take the insurance company up on a partial home visit. They offered to let him go home for the weekend, but he said it would be too hard to stay and then have to leave. It was easier for him to stay for the day and leave. The closer Tuesday gets, the tougher it's getting for him.

I picked him up this morning and he's been at home all day visiting friends, hanging with his cat and enjoying a grilled steak for the first time since February.

Yesterday Lauren got back from a week in west Tennessee, attending the 181st Tabernacle Camp Meeting family reunion of the Rev. Howell Taylor descendants. During the week, Lauren did a lot of videotaping and had many of his 500 cousins in attendance wished him well on tape. Andrew Kramer, Taylor's cousin and a talented musician, played "Wish You Were Here", a Pink Floyd tune that Taylor really likes. What was especially cool about this performance was that it was done at the church on the family campgrounds, during an evening service. Only at Tabernacle could someone get away with playing Pink Floyd in church. Watching the video tapes Lauren made, and watching those he missed seeing this year - then hearing that Andrew played "Wish You Were Here" for him was a little overwhelming for him last night. He still gets emotional when he thinks about those who have been so good to him through all of this. Several times he's said he just never knew so many people cared about him. Obviously, they do.

So, now we wait. Less than 48 hours and Taylor will be back home.

The countdown gets serious

11:20am

Tuesday is in sight. As we got through last week, and he spent his last Wednesday and Thursday at rehab, it became a lot easier to appreciate that he will be home in 4 more days. It's getting a little tougher for Taylor now. He just wants to come home.

The hardest part of all of this was never really knowing when he would come home. Initially, our questions were harder to ask ourselves. WOULD he come home? If he did, would he be OK? Would he talk, laugh and hug us? Could we have a life with him like he had for the previous 20 years? We've known for a couple of months now that we would get the old Taylor back. And, we knew that even if he wasn't 100% like he was the last time we saw him before the wreck, the most important part of him - his personality, his intellect, his memory and humor - were intact. The rest really doesn't matter all that much when you're faced with what he was facing. There are a LOT of things that are in a whole different perspective than they were before.

Yesterday Taylor had Doctor appointments all over the place.

He went to the Opthamologist to have his vision checked. His left eye that during the bad times only moved about 1/4 of an inch is healing well. We're unable to tell any difference now in how his eyes move, but he still has some double vision. He was tested again yesterday, and it continues to improve, so our hope is it will correct on its own. If not, he can be fitted for glasses that will fine tune the alignment. He goes back in 2 months, so we'll see how it does then.

The collar came off at the Neurosurgeon visit, and he's enjoying scratching his neck whenever he feels the need and sleeping more comfortably.

His last stop was the Podiatrist. He acquired 4 ingrown toenails that is pretty common, apparently, for patients like Taylor. They continue to heal well and it has had no real impact on his rehabilitation.

Four days to go.

The collar....and Mullet.....are GONE!

6:40pm

FINALLY!!!! Color the Mullet gone!

Today Dr. Campanelli, Taylor's Neurosurgeon, removed the collar from Taylor's neck. It stayed on 6 weeks more than originally planned, but the Dr. wanted to be certain that it was done healing. He'll go back next week for some X-rays, but it should be gone for good.

Dr. Campanelli did a damn good job with Taylor, if I do say so myself, and he'll always be Taylor's biggest Hero. What else do you call the guy that coordinates the saving of your life?

Removing the collar did expose what we expected....a Mullet. Taylor said he felt like he should be looking for a Billy Ray Cyrus concert somewhere. Taylor said enjoy this photo - it's the LAST time he'll ever be seen with a Mullet.



Taylor headed straight for Maria, the girl that has cut his hair for years. I thought she may have to use a degreaser to clean that mess up first. She made it through, washed it and got it looking a little more normal.

Neck Check

12:06 am

Taylor went back to Lakeland Regional Medical Center yesterday to get another - and hopefully the last - scan of his neck. He'll go to the Neurosurgeon later this week to find out if the collar finally comes off.

But, the big treat (next to lunch from Arby's - he's still eating like a horse) was all the visiting he got to do. We were met at the door by Jessica and Erika, two Transporters we met and got to know during our time at LRMC. They figured out early on something special was happening with Taylor and hung on with us for the ride.

At the Waiting Room, we ran into a friend that watched Taylor when he was 2 or 3 years old. We see her from time to time in Bartow, but Taylor hasn't seen her in a long time. In a bit of irony, she was there to be with her Nephew who has a head and neck injury from a collision that happened just like Taylor's - his tires dropped of the edge of the road, he over corrected and rolled his car. To add to the irony, Taylor's Mother was on the way to see him on Sunday but was delayed by a helicopter that had landed on US 17. What she didn't know then was that it was our friend's Nephew that was being transported to the hospital.

We stopped by the Medical Intensive Care Unit and saw some of the staff there who either cared for Taylor or were nearby his room when we were spending so much time with him. They got to witness the fruits of their long hours and hard work. We haven't seen them in 2 months so it was a lot of fun for Taylor's mother and myself.

Next stop was the Trauma Unit. Taylor saw 2 of his favorite Nurses and got to hang out for a while. When the Nursing Supervisor saw him, his jaw dropped and he just looked at Taylor for a few seconds before standing up to greet him.

I'm not sure anyone expected to see him this soon, and although no one said it, I doubt most thought he'd be doing as well as he is so soon.

Seeing the LRMC staff today reminds us of how incredible those folks, and others like them, are. They give so much of their lives to helping heal and comfort other human beings. In cases like Taylor, during the worst times, he had 1 on 1 care. A Nurse sat by his bedside for 12 hours until he or she tagged out with the next shift. That went on day after day, week after week. They pay off for them is to see former patients like Taylor walk in, look them in the eye and say what Taylor said a lot of yesterday - 'Thank you for taking care of me".

Taylor will be making several more trips to the hospital in the weeks to come. He has several other shifts to visit.

All his Mother and I can say to them is "Thank you". It seems so inadequate. "Thank you" is something to say to someone that holds the door for you at a convenience store. They saved our son. We get him back very close to how we last saw him before the accident. So, showing him off to them is the best way for us to say "Thank You".

The passing of the wallet

8:30am

When we got to the hospital the early morning hours of March 1st, we were given Taylor's personal belongings - his wallet and cell phone.  He had worn a gold necklace, but that must have flown off his neck during the crash.

The cell phone was invaluable in putting us in touch with his friends.  Were it not for that, we couldn't have contacted the 4 friends that turned into over 50 that showed up at Lakeland Regional Medical Center  in less than an hour.

I held onto Taylor's wallet like it had a million dollars in it, although it only had $6.  It was the only personal thing of his that he had with him.  His handwriting was on papers, his photo on his drivers license and business cards from businesses he had been to recently were inside.  

 Just before the wreck, Taylor built a cage for the corner of his room. His plan was to buy some kid of reptile (chameleon, I think), but never got that far.   As soon as he's home, that's one of our first stops.

After the really scary days passed, I continued to carry Taylor's wallet daily.  I'm not quite sure why, but after doing it for so long it almost seemed disrespectful not to do it. Strange, I know.  I told Taylor I was carrying it and asked him weeks ago if he wanted me to leave it at rehab, but he said for me to keep it.

For 4 1/2 months I carried Taylor's wallet in my left front pocket every day.  Last night, I took it out for a minute and Taylor looked through it.  He purged some old papers from it so I figured now was as good as any time to give it back to him.  I asked if he was ready to keep his wallet and he said he was.  And, that was it. No big fanfare, no ceremonial passing of the wallet, just an empty left front pocket.

One week from tomorrow and he's coming home!!

"It's like giving a starving man a potato chip"

11:05am

At the time for Taylor to come home nears, Pam at Blue Cross offered to authorize a "therapeutic weekend" before Taylor comes home so he could take the place for a test spin. There are a few things we'll have to change around to accommodate his walker, which we hope he'll soon get rid of. But, having him home for a couple of days would help us get ready for the big day......July 24th.

Surprisingly - or maybe not - Taylor doesn't want to do it. He said that since he's so close to coming home for good, he'd rather just tough out another weekend in rehab.

He said coming home for the weekend just to go back for 3 days was like "giving a starving man a potato chip". Food plays a big part in his life these days, so the food analogy was almost expected.

He's a tough Dude. Opting to stay at the rehab facility rather than come home for the weekend really shows how dedicated he is to this whole process. He also wanted to make sure that he would have minimal down time when switching rehab programs so he doesn't lose momentum.

It's official - Taylor is coming home in 2 weeks!!!!!!!!

12:06am

It's a done deal. Taylor is coming home in 2 weeks, probably on July 24th. He was shooting for a release date of Friday, July 27th, to start a new rehab program in Winter Haven the following Monday, July 30th. He knows he's on a roll and doesn't want to lose any momentum. By the 24th, we're hopeful the feeding tube will be history and the Aspen collar just a bad memory. He finally figured out how to sleep on his side, but can't wait to finally sleep on his stomach.

I told him he would probably need one to two more days to get a lot of visiting out of the way, since he won't be able to stay up late on nights when he has to be at rehab the next day. So, his mother called our contact at Blue Cross and she is cool with Taylor leaving as early as July 24th. I know a lot of people have to fight with their insurance companies over relatively minor issues, but with all that we've dealt with since March, Pam at Blue Cross/Blue Shield has made this nightmare a whole lot easier to deal with.

Taylor gets what we hope is the final CAT scan of his neck on July 16th, then visits with his Neurosurgeon on July 19th where - hopefully - the collar will finally come off. Shortly after that, he'll get another swallow study to see if he can handle thin liquids. If so, he can once again eat and drink normally.

We've begun the task of trying to determine "the best of the best" experts in nerve issues involving the face so we can see what the options are. If we have to pack up and drive to California, we'll do it. Hopefully, we'll find someone east of the Mississippi, but we'll go wherever he/she is.

The Wedding

10:53pm

I meant to post a photo earlier of Taylor all dressed up with somewhere to go. A conventional tie wouldn't work with the collar, so he asked his Mother to buy a clip on so he could hang it off the collar. Worked perfectly!

2:20pm

Taylor made it to the Katy Kimelton and Tim Valdez wedding Saturday night, and had the most fun he's had since March 1st. He saw some folks he hasn't seen in a long time, and got to visit with a lot of friends.

After the traditional dances (Bride/Groom, Groom/mother, etc), Tim's mother, Kristi, recognized Taylor and dedicated the song "I Want To Live" to him. The DJ had the song ready to go, so it was apparent that Tim, Katy and Kristi had given it some thought in advance. As the song played, Taylor slow danced with his mother. When time came for the Groom to toss the garter, Tim set it up so that Taylor would get it. Saturday night was Tim and Katy's night. But, they shared some of their spotlight with Taylor - one of the kindest things I've seen in a long time.

July 27th

8:25am

Taylor has picked July 27th as the latest date he'll be in rehab. That will be just a few days short of the 5th month anniversary of the accident.

About a month ago he decided that once he could eat and drink and walk without aid, he would be ready to go home and continue out-patient rehab in Winter Haven. But, as he gets better he gets more anxious to go home, so he's revised his goals. Since he's now on solid food, will hopefully lose the collar in 10 days, and the feeding tube in the next couple of weeks, there will be no medical reason for him to remain at rehab. Initially he didn't want to come home until he could walk without any assistance. But, he's getting very homesick so he's changed his mind so he's set July 27th as his last day - if not sooner. His mother, sister or I will be with him all the time - he'll never be left home alone - so we can help him get around the house if that's necessary.

This morning, Taylor called at 7am. He's never called that early in the over 2 months he's been there. He's not a morning person. He said he woke up at 6am thinking about going home and couldn't sleep. He said in the past he knew he would one day get there, just never knew when. Now that he has a tentative date, he's Jones'n to come home.

In a little over 2 months in rehab, he's gone from only being able to sit up on the side of his bed for a couple of minutes to now walking 3o minutes at a time on a treadmill. He is eating solid food and gets closer daily to being able to drink thin liquids like water and milk.

In the upcoming weeks, Taylor may very well be able to drink thin liquids and walk without aid. For now, he's still using a walker after rehab hours and on weekends, and a cane during therapy. But, at the rate he's progressing, he may be able to walk unassisted by the end of the month.

The only fly in the ointment may be with the insurance company. A home inspection has to be done before he can be cleared for landing. Our house was built in 1917 and has the original claw foot bathtubs. And, we have brick steps so we may have to install handrails or make other accommodations to make it happen.

Tomorrow Taylor will go to the wedding of Tim Valdez and KatyKimelton in Polk County. He has already had us bring a suit to him, and tried it on to make sure it doesn't look too big. He's real excited to be going somewhere other than a Doctor appointment.

July 4th

2:48pm

Through the wonders of wireless Internet in my car, I'm doing this update from the drive through.

Taylor had rehab today, but finished early. He had 4 visitors this afternoon and apparently worked up a hunger. He called and asked me to pick up a bean burrito from Taco Bell to "hold me over" until dinner. I get the feeling that he'll be ordering from there frequently. For now, that is the only "non-institutional" food he can have.

He reported that he has now been upgraded at meals to standard food, but cut into small portions. If he masters that, and it's clear that he will, he'll be getting regular food very soon. At that point, he can eat whatever he wants. He will be a happy boy.

Taylor thought outside the bun

9:02am

Yesterday, Taylor was able to have lunch from Taco Bell. He just began eating, and depending less on the feeding tube, on June 20th. Since that time, he has progressed very quickly and is 1 step away from having a normal meal that is not pureed, ground or chopped. He is still on the feeding tube from 6pm until 6am each day, in an effort to put more weight on him. He is still 15 pounds under where he was the day of the accident.

In typical Taylor style, he ate like a horse yesterday - 5 soft Tacos, 1 Taquito and an Empanada. Normally, he could have eaten more but he needs to do some stomach conditioning before he goes back to the old days of ordering a 12" Subway sandwich that he would chase with a 6" one.

The speech therapist thinks that by mid next week he may be eating a regular meal. Then, if that goes well, he'll get the feeding tube out within a couple of weeks after that.

This coming Saturday Taylor will be attending the wedding of his friends Tim Valdez and Katie Kimelton. We've taken him on a few short field trips around Hardee County, but this will be the first time he's had a chance to see friends outside of a hospital or rehabilitation center.

"Don't feel sad for me"

10:39pm

Taylor and I were talking about his rehab and how well he’s been doing, and some of the unknowns. We just don’t know at this point how well he’ll recover from the facial paralysis, if his walking will be just as it was the day before the accident or if he’ll recover 100% of the strength in his right arm. There is no reason to think that there won’t be a full recovery, and we pray for that every day. One thing is certain - neither Taylor or us will ever give up should some things not return to as they were. He has a long way to go, and a lot of options we haven't even gotten near looking at.

The ENT is pretty certain that he’ll have at least partial hearing loss in his left ear, but some may be recovered after some fluid that still exists behind the drum goes away.

Taylor said “Don’t feel sad for me”. It would be so easy for Taylor to focus on what hasn’t happened, but he’s chosen to look past that and accept that some things might not be as they were the day before his accident. He’s very focused on getting stronger and puts all of his energy toward walking and getting off of the feeding tube.

Today, he came a step closer to losing the feeding tube. He has been cleared for lunch from Taco Bell tomorrow. Yesterday was the fourth month anniversary of the accident and tomorrow will be the first time since he’s been able to have solid food that HE gets to pick what he wants to eat. Tomorrow we’ll be making a Taco Bell run for him. He's requested a "number 8"....no memory problems there! If you listen out of your window at about 12:05pm EST, you might here a faint “Mmmmmm” coming from Hardee County, Florida.