April 30, 2007

We have been very busy with all of Taylors discharge work and all of her progress lately but I thought it was important to update everyone on a few things. Some of you may have heard by now that the May 1st go home date is no longer havppening. I would like to update everyone as to why. Back in Feb. 2007 we contacted Enloe Hospital in Chico to see if they would take Taylor on as a vent patient. We were denied. Ever since Feb. Shriners Hospital has been working on finding a company to accept Taylor. Taylor is considered a high liability due to her vent and trach. We have had all of our other home care needs in order for weeks and rady for discharge except the vent care. Last week we contacted Enloe again for a second review. They denied us again. From what I have heard they said the y did not want to acceept new patients due to Enloe wanting to close down the In Home Vent Care program. We ceived this news last Thursday. Shriners kept going and thankfully they found a company in Sacramento who will take Taylor as a patient. Now she can come home. Many patients are not able to go home if thye can not find care in their area. Many patients move to the town that will service them. Again, luckily, the company in Sacramento will service us.

The news media contacted me for an update on Taylor as they have several times in the past. We told them about Enloe and the problem we had had with them. The media contaced Enloe to get their side of the story and were told that Enloe hadn't heard of Taylor and that they never denied us. I find it hard to believe they can deny someone twice for the same patient and never know who the person is. Since the media has contacted Enloe, I have received several messages from their rep saying how Enloe would love to help out in any way they can. I want it to be clear that we are still using the company in Sacremanto as they are responsible for Taylor coming home. As you all knwo Taylor has had her whole world turned upside down in the last 5 months. She has had to get used to nurses picking at her, different doctors, bad food, even not being able to scratch her nose if she wants to (along with many other things we take for granted.) but the whole time she does it with a smile on her face and a big heart towards everyone. And still when you ask her what she wants to do it is to go home and get in my mommy's bed. You all have been so wonderful in your love and support towards Taylor, that I feel you should be aware of not only our progress and accomplishments but also the setbacks we face that come directly from our community. I can't tell you how wonderufl the people at Shriners have been in contributing to Taylor's progress and getting home. Dr. McDonald has been magnificent and Taylor could not be in better hands. We should be home in 2-3 weeks and are blessed everyday for the continued love and support you all send our way.

On a little lighter note, Taylor had her very first day pass on Saturday!!!! It was AWESOME!!! She was able to go to see her Aunt Lissy at work, she went to lunch, she played with her cousins. She had a great time. She didn't get nervous or anything. It was one of the best weekends we have had in a very long time. On Sunday she had her horses stop by the hospital and loved it so much. She was able to feed them with her mouth!!! She was so excited to tell me how she put the food in her mouth and the horses just ate it up without biting her. She really is doing well and I know will continue to do so.

She is doing really well on her bike. She is able to stay on it for the whole hour everyday and even pushes it a little harder these days. She is hooked up to the stimulators that make her leg do the work, but she is really doing great. She still isn't eating the hospital food, she says its really bad but she is gaining weight. We are still planning to do Christmas when we get home. She can't wait. She can't believe that our neighbors have said they would put their lights up for her. We will continue to keep you posted and thank you from the bottom of our hearts for all your love towards Taylor. It is so wonderful.