Diane - and a dozen other people

8:50am

Yesterday we made another trip to Shands Hospital at the University of Florida to follow up on his eyelid surgery. The Dr. said it looked great - better than he would expect it to so soon.

We talked again about the options for surgery to help control the left side of his mouth. There is a brand new procedure that is yet another option that we hadn't previously discussed. The Dr. suggested waiting until the early part of '08 to make a decision, but some of the options should be done within 18 months of the accident, so Taylor still has some time to decide what to do.

If Taylor could have thanked those who helped save or care for him in proper order, one of those at the top of the list would be Diane, a nurse at the Medical Intensive Care Unit.

Angie, Taylor and Diane

She had her hands full on March 6th when Taylor's brain pressure went out of control. As soon as she got him off to surgery, she had to deal with Taylor's mother, who was had a major melt down that had been building for 5 days. No one had to tell us, but we knew at that moment that Taylor's life was in jeopardy, and his survival now depended on what happened in the operating room with Dr. Campanelli. Even though everyone that helped Taylor is special, there are a couple of "extra" special ones, and Diane is on the short list.

Angie was working yesterday too. She supervises this particular shift and was great support for us. All of the nurses not only have to care for the patient, but they also serve to help parents like us from completely losing our minds. Ironically, Angie is the sister-in-law of a family, the Willcockson's that lived next door to us a few years ago.

We also stopped by to see Jack Stevens, the CEO of the hospital, and his assistant Fran. Taylor's mother knew them prior to Taylor becoming a patient, and they checked on him while he was there for 2 months.

While waiting for an elevator, a woman we didn't recognize - whose name we don't know - smiled at us and began to comment on how good Taylor looked. She said that she had inserted a PIC line (a port used to introduce IV's) for him. He had 2 done, since he snatched one out when he was in ICU. The most recent one would have been done in early April, so she has a pretty amazing memory.

We learned that Dr. Campanelli was at the hospital and tracked him down to the Operating Room. We were told he was finishing up his fourth for the day, and would be out soon, so we waited by the OR doors for him so we could say hi. While waiting for him, we saw a man and woman we had met in March in the ICU waiting room who were back due to another relative having surgery. They knew how badly Taylor was injured, and were obviously surprised to see him standing and talking.

Dr. Campanelli and his Physican's Assistant, Melissa, came out of the OR and visited with us a while. We told them that Taylor went to a Halloween party over the weekend, and went at himself - wearing a hospital gown. His friend, Tim Valdez, went as "Dr. Campanelli".

As we were about to leave, or former next door neighbors, (on the other side of where the Willcockson's lived) Jimmy and Lou Ann Strickland and daughter "Lewter", saw us and came over to see Taylor. We hadn't seen them in several years. Lou Ann told Taylor's mother that she had seen the Mother's Day article she had written about Taylor, but it upset her too much to read the entire story.

Yesterday was a fun visit. We went to see 1 person, and ended up visiting with almost a dozen. Being with Taylor is sometimes like being with a celebrity.

"I've got bling for my eyelid"

6:35am

Taylor's surgery went well yesterday.

It was a little unnerving to watch him get hooked to an IV and then be rolled through the doors leading to one of the 24 operating rooms at Shands Hospital in Gainesville. Every time we watched him go into the operating rooms previously it was for much more serious issues.

Dr. Adelson had Taylor try out some weights by taping them to his eyelid. He said there is a 1 in 10 chance of picking the wrong size weight, so they always leave the decision up to the patient. When the gold weight was first taped to Taylor's eyelid, he said "I've got bling for my eyelid". That was apparently the first time a patient has ever said that, if the Dr.'s response was any indication. He may still be laughing.

By the time we got home last night, it looked like the Referee should have called the fight in the 2nd round. His eyelid was swollen and purple. By midnight, it looked a lot worse and the Dr. said today it will really be nasty. But, he's armed with Percocet for the pain so as of last night he didn't really care. He goes back to Gainesville next week for a follow up, then should be done with any kind of invasive procedures until the first part of next year when the chewing muscle is transplanted to his cheek.

First roadtrip done! Surgery tomorrow

10:20am

As recently as June or July, if someone had told us that Taylor would be recovered and well enough to take a trip to the mountains this fall, we would have looked at them like they were crazy. On May 29th, he was walking at about 1/2 the normal walking speed, but could only do it with a walker. On June 21st, he learned how to use a cane. And, the feeding tube didn't come out until August 1st.

Over the weekend, we made our first roadtrip since Taylor's accident. We have property near Dahlonega, GA and every year try to go to Gold Rush Days - one of largest fall festivals in the mountains.

Taylor - even at 1, 450' above sea level,

NEVER out of touch with his crew

We weren't really certain how tough the ride may be on Taylor, but he did OK. He wasn't much for walking around town, since many of the streets have enough of a grade that it was a little too much for him. And, we had to skip the usual mountain hikes we take to waterfalls. But, it was still the best trip, ever. In honor of his recovery, Taylor did make it to the top of the highest mountain in Georgia, Brasstown Bald. OK. So, we took the shuttle and he rode the elevator to the observation deck instead of taking the stairs. But, he made it!!!Brasstown Bald


Tonight, Taylor and I head up to Gainesville for his surgery tomorrow on his eyelid. It doesn't sound like a particularly dangerous procedure, but he will be under general anesthesia and anytime somebody is goofing around your eyeball it's a little more sensitive than other parts of the body. Taylor doesn't seem concerned at all. But, after what he's been through, this is a cakewalk for him.

Showing Taylor some love

11:30pm

Seven months after Taylor's accident, he still has "cheering sections" that pop up from time to time. Some, like Pam Rentz's Sunday School class outside of Atlanta, GA, has watched Taylor's progress for months and prayed for his recovery. Pam is a friend of a friend who has watched Taylor's progress and shared it with her class as an example of God's healing powers, and the power of prayer.


Then, there were blogs blogging Taylor's blog. After our visit with Officer Pat Guity of the Lakeland Police Department, a note about Taylor's visit appeared at the department's website at www. insidelakelandpd.org . And, Josh Hallett at www.empiricalpolk.com recently learned of Taylor's blog and gave it a "shout out" recently as an example of how a blog can help keep folks connected in an event like this.

A childhood friend of mine, Marc Macaulay, has also kept up with Taylor from his home in south Florida. Marc is an actor (the kind that really makes a living at it) and recently sent Taylor a copy of The Punisher (filmed in Tampa) and a Block Buster gift card. You can check out the movies and TV shows Marc is currently in (or has been in) at the Internet Movie Database ( www.imdb.com/name/nm0531333) .

Marc has appeared in films with Sandra Bullock, Jack Nicholson, Diane Keaton, Queen Latifah, John Travolta, Woody Harrelson, Colin Farrell, Jim Carrey, Wesley Snipes, Will Smith, Martin Lawrence.....anyway, you get the idea. He's not some goofy wannabe. He's goofy, just not a wannabe (you know I'm kidding, Marc)

Taylor is spending a lot of time at home watching movies with friends, so he's already ripped through the gift card and has watched The Punisher a couple of times.

Taylor finishes out-patient rehab

8:00am

Yesterday was Taylor's last day at the ESTEEM program in Winter Haven. He's not back to 100%, but he's as far as they thought they can get him for now. They are holding 5 more visits in case he needs them later. We hope that as the brain continues to heal, and he exercises at the local gym, he'll continue to improve. His right side is still very weak compared to his pre-accident strength. He's unable to break the seal when opening a soft drink, but compared to where he was when he first went to FINR, he's improved dramatically. During his initial assessments there, he was unable to draw a circle or square on paper. Now, he can write as clear and as quick as he ever did.

Although he still uses a cane, it's used for security now more than to actually help him walk. He is a little more dependent on it when he gets tired. When that happens, he gets pretty wobbly. Then, it's compounded by the double vision, which sometimes puts him a little off target from where he's headed.

Last week some friends of his went to the local skate park and Taylor went along to watch. He told his friends he'd probably never be able to skate again. He was an avid skater until a couple of years ago when his mother bought him something with a little more speed and thrills - a Yamaha "crotch rocket motorcycle. It was part of a secret pact they made. He graduates high school with honors, she buys him the motorcycle. It was an arrangement I wasn't thrilled with, but the vote was 2:1. Before Taylor came home from FINR, our friend Daryl Hershey came to pick up the motorcycle and took it to his shop. Even if Taylor ever got to the point where he could ride a motorcycle, it will have to be one he purchases when he's living on his own. This one is gone. I think his interest in it is gone as well. When I told him I had gotten rid of it, he said he figured that would happen. He was OK with it.


Even if Taylor could get to the point where he can skate again, I hope he never tries it. You can tell from the photo that appeared in The Ledger newspaper on opening day of the skate park, he has to all the acrobatic stuff, enhancing the chances for injury. This picture was taken when he was 17.

But, that has always been Taylor. He has the distinction of being the first person at Bartow Regional Medical Center to have a cast put on a broken bone - he did that the first day they opened. Before the accident he had sliced his head to the bone, twice, and has had more staples and stitches to close wounds than any other kid I ever knew. He has more scars than some Gangbangers. He has always been 100% all boy.

Officer Pat Guity, Lakeland Police Department

1:10pm

Last Friday night, Taylor finally met Pat Guity.



Weeks after it was apparent that Taylor was well on his way to recovery, and the likelihood that something bad may happen had passed, his Neurosurgeon, Dr. Michael Campanelli, told us a story about him being stopped on the way to the hospital.

On March 6th (Black Tuesday) when Taylor's intercranial pressure rose to potentially fatal levels, Dr. Campanelli was called at home and he hurried to the hospital to do emergency surgery. We were with Taylor and knew something very scary was happening, and suspected what we later learned - that his survival was in jeopardy.

Enroute to the hospital, Dr. Campanelli became stuck in traffic that was backed up due to a traffic crash. The particular road he was on has no cross streets nearby and he was unable to cross the elevated median. He notified the hospital to sterilize Taylor's room, thinking he may have to do the surgery there to save his life.

He then saw an ambulance coming from behind him, traveling on the right of way, and saw his opportunity. He pulled to the shoulder behind the ambulance and followed to the intersection, then scooted through hoping no one would notice.

He thought wrong. Officer Pat Guity went after him and pulled him over. Dr. Campanelli told Officer Guity that he had a patient in trouble and needed to get to the hospital fast. Officer Guity told him to go without verifying anything. He didn't go through the "registration and insurance" routine, didn't call the hospital to verify his story, he just told Dr. Campanelli to go.

That decision may have made a huge impact on Taylor's survival and recovery.

Last Friday night, we showed up at shift change. No one but Officer Guity's Lieutenant knew we were coming and why we were there. Suzie told the story of the traffic stop and how Officer Guity's decision to trust that he was being told the truth by Dr. Campanelli may have contributed to helping save Taylor's life. As I looked at the 20 or so Officers at briefing, there were several that were obviously moved by the story as she told it. We know the reality is that not every police officer would have been so trusting. In fact, if it happened in the small town where we live, Dr. Campanelli may STILL be sitting on the side of the road getting the 3rd degree.

Taylor then gave Officer Guity a necklace bearing a St. Christopher medal he purchased for him in hopes it helps keep him safe at work and in his travels.