Update December 28, 2006

As of today it looks like Taylor will be moved across the street to Shriner's Hospital next Tuesday, January 3. She will have surgery at Shriner's on January 8 to install the phrenic pacer. Following surgery, she will go through rehab for 4 to 8 weeks to ween her off the ventilator. If everything goes according to plan she should be breathing on her own in a couple months. Although she has learned to talk a bit with her ventilator, she will be able to fully communicate with the phrenic pacer.

Taylor has been sitting up in her chair a lot lately. The goal is to have her sit in the chair for three hours per day. She's been doing well considering that it's not always her favorite activity. She continues to do her physical therapy. They concentrate a lot on working her neck and shoulders. Yesterday she moved her neck and shoulders at the same time, causing her to lean forward a bit.

We hope that everyone had a wonderful Christmas and got to spend time with family and good friends. Taylor has received all of your Christmas gifts and well wishes. Because Taylor loves spending Christmas at home with all of the lights and decorations, she has requested to celebrate Christmas once she gets back home to Chico. So don't be surprised if you notice Christmas lights and a Christmas tree in Chico sometime next year!

Taylor has really enjoyed seeing a lot of her friends before the holidays. She has been making Christmas ornaments with Diana and Courtney from Family Life. We have a tenative date for surgery. Jan. 5th is the last we have heard. Surgery will probably take place at UCD and then we will be headed to Shriners for a few months. Taylor is starting to get into her chair 3 times a day. Tammy was able to pick Taylor up and have Taylor sit in her lap for awhile. Tammy said that was the best feeling she has had in a long time. Taylor is learning to talk over the Tracheotomy that is in her throat right now which makes comunicating a lot easier. They will not change the Tracheotomy she has now until the surgery on the 5th of Jan. Everyone is so thankful for the continued support and we wish everyone a Merry Christmas! Please continue to hold Taylor in your prayers; this is where her greatest healing possibility begins!!

Update 17, 2006

It looks like Taylor will be moving to Shriner's Hospital in Sacramento at the beginning of January. From what we understand, Taylor will be the first patient on a ventilator accepted to Shriner's Hospital. After Taylor's transfer from UC Davis Medical Center to Shriners, Taylor is scheduled to undergo surgery to install a phrenic pacer. After the surgery they will slowly wean her off of the ventilator. Taylor will continue her recovery and rehab at Shriners.

Taylor is starting to get up in her chair twice a day and even got to go outside to visit the dogs (Chico and Amanda) the other day. She continues to do her physical therapy once a day. She has started doing neck exercises. The excercises were difficult for her at first, but are starting to get easier the more she does them.

The doctors are talking about modifying her tracheotomy to hopefully allow her to speak. The schedule on this is unknown right now.

We would like to thank Round Table Pizza, Costco, and all of our friends and family who helped put together the fundraiser last Thursday. We wish that we could have been there to thank you in person. Everyone's support is felt here in Sacramento.

Taylor got a visit from her friend Xavier yesterday. They had a good time together. Taylor always enjoys visits from her friends. She does get very tired after her visits, so we have to keep visits short. Taylor's teacher sent Taylor her homework yesterday, so that should keep her busy for the week.

Taylor got a visit from the wives of the Kings basketball team last week. She now has an array of Kings paraphenalia, including a basketball, calendar, and a pom pom.

Update December 12, 2006

We woud like to thank everyone who came to the Carnitas Fundraiser at the Woodland Elks Club. A special thank you to Ginny Monroe and Bob Frommelt for organizing the event. Approximately 500 people came out to show their support and get together with family & friends. We were entertained by the Davis High School Madrigals, who sounded great. It was great to spend time with friends.

During the Carnitas Fundraiser, Taylor and her Aunt Melissa decorated Taylor's room for Christmas. They even put up Christmas lights.

REMINDER: Thursday night is the Round Table Fundraiser to benefit the Taylor Parker Hope Fund. If you're in the mood for pizza, order take-out or visit any of three Chico Round Tables.

If you are interested in receiving a "Hope for Taylor" button, please send an e-mail to tayparker@gmail.com with your address. Button donations have been around $5, but are not required.

Taylor continues to be very vocal. She's been eating hospital meals in addition to being fed through her feeding tube. It hasn't been ideal weather for taking trips outside, but Taylor continues to get up in her chair daily.

Update December 9, 2006

The doctors have decided that Taylor is a good candidate for a surgery that would install a mechanical diaphragm. This would be very similiar to a pacemaker except that it would be installed to function her diaphragm and make her able to breathe on her own. The main benefit would be that she could be removed from the ventilator, which could increase her options for rehabilitation facilities and would greatly increase her comfort. The surgery would be performed in a couple of weeks and it would take several weeks to wean her off of the ventilator.

Taylor is as talkative as ever and had a private lesson with her teacher Mrs. Knecht today. Mrs. Knecht brought gifts from other children and lessons that Taylor needed to catch up on. Tammy should keep busy with home schooling!

We would like to thank everyone involved with the fundraising at the Woodland Christmas parade today and everyone helping out with the carnitas feed. Thanks for all of your support and emails. We're looking forward to seeing you all soon.

Woodland Fundraiser - Sunday, December 10, 2006

What: Carnitas Lunch (Carnitas, Rice & Salad served)
When: Sunday, December 10, 2006, 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Where: Woodland Elks Lodge, 500 Bush St.
Cost: Donations accepted, all proceeds from the lunch will be donated to the Taylor Hope Fund
Questions: Please call Bob Frommelt @ (530) 681-0564 or Ginny Monroe @ (530) 681-1570

The Davis High School Madrigals will be performing at 12:30 pm.

We would like to thank the Elks Lodge for hosting this event and would like to thank all those involved in organizing the lunch!

Update December 7, 2006

Well, Taylor got her wish the other day, she got to eat pizza! Taylor has been chewing and swallowing well, so the doctors gave her the ok to eat most foods. She can't eat anything hard like chips, but as long as pizza and mac-n-cheese are in her diet, Taylor's happy.

Taylor continues to get up in her chair everyday. When Taylor is up for it they cruise around outside to get some fresh air. Yesterday she enjoyed going shopping in the hospital gift shop. She picked out a very cute ornament. Taylor continues to be very vocal and enjoys when people read her stories. She really enjoys Cinderella.

Taylor's aunt Melissa painted her toe nails yesterday in Christmas red. Her big toes have hearts on them that sparkle.

The doctors requested that Taylor get some shoes that would keep her feet at a 90 degree angle to her leg, so last night her grandma Vicki brought her pink cowboy boots with some matching pink silk pajamas. Taylor's going to be the best dressed patient on the floor!

We continue to print your messages and e-mails to read to Taylor. She loves listening to them, especially the messages from her friends.

Pizza Fundraiser Update

Just a note on the Pizza Fundraiser scheduled for Thursday, December 14th...20% of all delivery orders will also benefit the Taylor Hope Fund. So if you're in the mood to eat at home or eat at a near-by Round Table, all orders will benefit Taylor's Fund.

For those of you requesting buttons, they will be available at the fundraiser. For those of you out-of-town folks that are requesting buttons, we're going to have to come up with a way to get you some buttons. Give us a little while to work out the details and we will post it on the website.

An update on Taylor will follow tomorrow.

Update December 4, 2006

Taylor continues to sit up in the chair daily and yesterday she even got to go outside to get some fresh air! Sitting is not Taylor's favorite thing to do right now, but it should start getting easier the more often she does it.

Everyone is excited to see that Taylor is her same spunky self. She's very good at telling the doctors, nurses and her parents what she wants and needs. It's her personality and drive that are going to help her recover.

If you are interested in donating with a credit card to the "Taylor Hope Fund," you can now make a secure online payment using Pay Pal. A "Make a Donation" button has been added to the right side of the website. To make a donation, simply click on the button to be routed to a secure Pay Pal webpage.

We hear that "Hope for Taylor" buttons are circulating around Chico and want you all to know that we, too, are wearing our buttons everyday. We would like to thank everyone for their continued support!

Update December 2, 2006

Taylor had a good day today. She sat up in her chair for another two hours. She is not a big fan of the neck brace that she has to wear when she sits in her chair, but she is brave and did very well.

Taylor got a big treat today. She passed a couple swallow tests so she is now able to eat soft foods. Her first food today was apple sauce. She is now able to eat ice cream, milk shakes, smoothies, etc. She was craving pizza today, but until they make puree pizza she's going to have to stick to apple sauce (at least for a while).

Update December 1, 2006

Happy December!

Taylor had a good day yesterday. Her brother, Tanner, came to visit her for the first time. Tanner and Taylor had a great time together. Tanner layed in bed with Taylor and both of them were laughing.

Taylor sat up in a chair yesterday! It wasn't the most comfortable thing for Taylor, but she's a tough girl. The hard part was holding her head up. Her head has been in the same position for about two weeks, so he neck is very stiff. With help from Tammy, Taylor was able to sit up for two hours.

Thanks again for all your e-mails and comments. We're lucky to have such supportive family and friends.