Taylor's surgery day. May 11, 1998. The surgery was for 5 hours. He should of been out 4 hours, but they had to resterilize for safety precautions which delayed the completion to his surgery.

The doctor came out upon the completion of Taylor's surgery. He stated it all went well and that Taylor was in a full leg cast with a removable bar. He has support bars placed in his hips where they will need to be surgically removed in 6 months to a year. He has pins in his lower legs, where they will remove upon the removal of his cast.

As Taylor started to wake up, he was pretty scared. He was not sure where he was and did not like how he was feeling. He was asking for me to come in right away, however, I am not as strong with that part and not be able to see Taylor so soon after any surgery. Hospitals period. My stomach gets so quizzy along with my head wanting to spin a little. I did pull together as I heard Taylor in need and knew I could make it in there for him. Taylor had a pretty tough time in recovery and the first few days on.

Taylor was in ICU for a couple of days due to having epidermal for pain of a needle in his back. The staff in Pediatrics were not comfortable for a young boy being treated in this procedure, so he had to stay in ICU at a closer watch. That was okay though. He was really spoiled and got a lot of attention. He just was not doing too well with things and tried so hard to be a big brave boy with all this. It was just really hard as for he had a lot of ouchies and was pretty scared.

It was a couple of days before Taylor felt like eating and was able to keep anything down. The first time he was able to actually eat and keep it down, was a orange popsicle. Yum! Taylor got to eat them everyday and anytime he wanted. Wow!!! He was having problems with his cast because they were just too tight. They had to cut his casts open and then wrap in ace bandage for support. What a relief! Taylor did feel somewhat better.

The day came in removing the epidermal and needle. I felt that he was able to tolerate a different dose of pain medicine. Now he was able to go back to Pediatrics. But he was not sure in what was taking place upon getting ready to be moved. He was comfortable in where he was and was pretty scared on what was going on. Taylor did not understand many things due to not feeling well and very ouchy. Taylor does not like changes.

Taylor's days went by and he was coming along. He has been eating better with his spirits up now and then. He had a lot of pain though along with discomfort. Taylor was able to get into a wheelchair in where we would take him for walks around the halls. He was up to playing Nintendo at times and going in the play room. He did have some good moments.

On the fifth day at the hospital, the doctor left the option open if we were up to taking Taylor home and if we were comfortable with it. It was decided that he would probably do much better at home. So the doctor proceeded with the release.

Taylor instantly as always upon early releases had smiles all the way home. I have been waiting so long to see him smiling again. Upon arrival, Taylor's bed was ready and awaiting in the front room. He was so overjoyed being home. His own bed. Taylor at home with all his surroundings. Taylor's days were long as for he had quite a bit of pain. His appetite sure was getting back to normal though. As for his nights, they were not too good as for he was experiencing nightmares. All he would dream about was the hospital and being put to sleep. The gas really scares his. I tried to help him by asking him to talk about the dreams, but he is just too scared and is not ready to talk about it yet.

Taylor's first follow up appointment on the 20th of May. They took an x-ray and upon the doctor viewing it, he was pretty silent. He approached us with a very concerned look. He stated there was no sign of new bone growth. Did not even ask for any further details in what, how and why due to not having the energy to hear any more devastation. Just left it as that until our next appointment the following week.

The second follow up appointment. Taylor again had an x-ray. The doctor came in and took a little longer in viewing the x-rays. The look of concern. The doctor approached us with his head down and said, "There was some complications." I sat down trying to hold back my emotions. The doctor stated that there was still no signs of new bone growth and the hips are out of alignment. They needed to re-admit Taylor and put him to sleep to view his hips with a fluoroscope to see if by manual movement, the hips can be realigned. If this was not possible, they will have to proceed in the surgery. Well, again, my world crumbled all over again. Being speechless. I just broke down. You could see that Taylor felt there was definitely something not right here, but he just kept smiling away in his good spirited nature as for he did not fully understand what was going on. Taylor was re-admitted the following day.

What a hard day it was having to go through it all over again. There was no time to even heal. I tried so hard to be strong in explaining it to Taylor that he had to go back to the hospital for surgery again. I was just so terribly upset. Taylor was going to be going back to school that day and he missed his teacher and friends. Taylor's day crumbled too. He was too scared to go back, especially, he is so scared of the sleepy gas. The rest of the evening was spent sitting close to one another with surrounding love and prayers.

May 28, 1998, back to surgery Taylor went. 3 1/2 hours later, the doctor came out to the waiting room and kneeled down and spoke quietly. He apologized repeatedly as for he stated that he made an error in the prior surgery of cutting the hip bones too high. This resulted in the loss of support to Taylor hips where they went out of alignment. I was speechless as I was biting my tongue in keeping it together. I felt my heart in my throat at this point. What was I to say. I know I had a blank look on my face as the doctor was explaining the situation. Something you do not want to hear especially when it comes to your child. Anyone for that matter. Doctors can make mistakes in life just as the next person, however, regardless, it is very devastating and painful to see your child at such a young age to have to go through such especially when complications occur. They re-opened Taylor's incisions and realigned his hips. They changed the current support bars and also inserted pins for added support. He was casted in a full Spica body cast in a knee bent position without a removable bar.

This time around was a bit harder for Taylor. He was in Pediatrics and not doing well. He felt a lot of anger this time around and was not comfortable with having a cast all the way up his body to under his arms. He had more pain this time and just was not happy with things. Taylor had a lot of discomfort in his stomach area due to the cast was too tight. They had to cut the casting open in the chest/stomach area and place a spacer in between to keep the cast open to some point for comfort. They wrapped ace bandage around for support to the cast. He was in the hospital for 2½ days with the options left open again as to whether feeling comfortable in taking Taylor home. Since Taylor did so well coming home the prior surgery, it was best he would once again come home.

Home again. The days were more difficult. Trying to heal from the trauma to the prior surgery and to having to re-live it all over again so soon, really took it's toll. Taylor's nights continue to be long as for he has quite a bit of pain and still has nightmares. He is coming along everyday in baby steps and does have his moments of laughter and good times. In being by his side as always, we will get through this and get to the end of that rainbow yet.

June 8, 1998, Taylor's first follow up appointment. The news was delightful!! They took an x-ray and the doctor stated everything looked great. He has new bone growth and the cast will be off in 3 weeks at the end of June. News you want to hear. He will not be having any casting upon the removal of this one. Taylor will be using braces or AFO's which are similar to braces. I am so happy!!! Our life can continue where he can progress into his steps of dreams and goals. The doctor stated that Taylor's legs will be straight now and this will assist in his goals to walking better in the hopes to be the result.

Taylor had a set back due to a day before his last day of summer school. One of the kids jumped on his leg where he just had surgery and broke it. He had to have immediate surgery in repairing and have it casted again.

December 1, 1998, we met with Taylor's new Orthopedic due to residing to a new city. Taylor's prior surgery to his hips looked super. The doctor has plans of removing the hip support plates sometime in the year of 2000. His broken leg is fully healed. Taylor's legs are severely tight again and cross over where another surgery would be needed in the lengthening of the muscles as suspected in time of needing once again as he grew. He is in need of correction to both of his heels also. March 31, 1999 will be the first scheduled surgery. It was also stated in being prepared due to the fact that Taylor may never walk on his own, which devastated me in hearing such. However, I believe and have much faith as to Taylor has demonstrated the potential in his motivation in doing so to maybe walk one day on his own. I will not give up without a fight. We have a rainbow to walk across together!!! Either way, I will be by my Taylor's side and love him ever so much ALWAYS even if it may never be possible. Taylor is my gift, heart and soul, all the way.

March 31, 1999 Taylor had surgery to his left foot in the drop of the heel cord. The incision was left a few inches open due to wanting the foot to heel from the inside to out without the added tightness. He has a pin in for support with a full leg cast for 2 weeks. Taylor will have the following surgery in completion on April 14, 1999. He came out brave as ever and continues on with courage. Taylor continues in his days with that special spunk of Happy Happy Joy Joy ... well, he has had his days in where he has shown the opposite due to much pain and discomfort, but, all in all, he has enough strength to go around.

April 14, 1999, the surgery completion to his legs and feet. Taylor was in very good spirits in going back to the hospital as the children have the option to drive a motorized car right to the operating room. This gave him the joy needed in being less worried about things. He laughed all the way down and brought the hearts of all the nurses and staff right along with him. Taylor's surgery went well again. He had the same procedure to his right foot in having the heel cord dropped with a pin insert. Taylor had both abductors done and hamstrings. He is in full leg castings with a non-removable bar. He had a tough time this time around. Much pain and discomfort. Due to all the medicine he needed, he was not well most days. It has been rough upon his days home also, but he has come out of it all as a stronger man.

Taylor has had his casting removed 2 weeks later due to needing the dressings changed to both incisions open to the feet. He was then re-casted with a removable bar this time around. Taylor was complaining of pain and discomfort due to the casts were digging into his hip plates. He had to go in a few days later in where the casts had to be cut down. Taylor also had the backing of the right foot casting removed in order to change his dressing daily and soak the wound with saline. This process will go for 2 weeks and his entire castings will be removed on May 14th. Taylor has been doing exercise to his legs while in the cast of walking around some in his walker. He is doing very, very well. Very much looking forward to the outcome this time around. Our rainbow appears to be getting brighter and brighter.

Taylor's days have reached in the healing and much strength returned to his legs. The walker has been in full force of use and dusted off. Taylor does have muscle loss in his left ankle in where his ankle has the caved in effect. In time, this should be corrected. His feet and legs are positioned nicely. On a straight level, however, there is still much tightness to his left foot. He still very much crosses his legs also.

Taylor has OT/PT services in school as well as outside PT 2 times a week of 1 hour sessions. He is to wear a leg separator at night to correct and aid in the crossing of his legs and knee bent positioning. During the day he wears AFO's. He does a fair amount of walking in his walker at school which is ever so wonderful of his progress. Our Taylor is in mainstream Grade One and has the best of care in the behalf of the school, his teacher, assistant and therapists. He is monitored in every step of his days and is given much beliefs in their behalf that Taylor has every potential to reach all goals set. We are so proud of our Trooper. This is my first year of his schooling where I am at peace within in not having to worry about our littleman. He is in good hands!

Taylor had his annual Orthopedic check up December 10, 1999. An x-ray was taken to his hips in where it was close in having the hip support plates surgically removed. In the findings, they were to be removed sooner than anticipated. The surgery was in need to take place as for the plates were in the stages of possible breakage to the bones and one of the screws were out in which this is very common. The first date open booked to do the surgery was December 22, 1999. Such pain to the heart as it was not a time of the year to have such.

The surgery lasted a bit longer than planned as for there was complications in removing the screws. They were so tight that they had to chisel away some of the bone in order to remove the plates. The doctor stated that the holes in all areas of the bone would heal and grow over in time. Otherwise, the doctor was pleased to say it all went well and the comforting words in being able to take Taylor home the same day if however, feeling comfortable with it. Taylor had dissolving stitches and gauze coverage with large plastic bandages.

Taylor was pretty distraught in recovery and was finally more calm upon being in his own room with special visitors. Dr. Magic the clown and a representative from a company paying visits to all the children with special bears. Other than vomiting, he was doing very well and requested to go home. Three hours after his surgery, went home and Taylor did much better at home as he always has in the past. With only pain and discomfort for a couple of days, Taylor's name "Trooper" shined again.

Taylor would not move. He stayed in the same spot due to saying he was in pain. Well, Christmas day came and he sure did have a surprise in store. He was surprised with a Dune Buggy Car. Well, he perked up instantly and said he wanted to go out and drive. Well, smiles were larger than life. The words I wanted to hear as the pain instantly had vanished. He did better from then on with movement and not as much pain with more itching than anything.

To report, Taylor is doing very well and his spirits continue. He is moving around on his own in crawling, scooting and climbing. Upon the post-op visit, the doctor removed the bandages and showed the extra special job he did. The doctor removed the large scars left from the prior surgeries to his hip plates being placed from another doctor that had left enormous scars. The doctor was kind hearted and neatly cleaned it all up. It looks so beautiful with such thin incisions. Taylor's Orthopedic doctor is one of a kind. He is so very caring and watches over Taylor. He is such a blessing and has heart.

Taylor was wanting to very much walk in his walker, but was not able to put weight on his legs for at least another month into February. That was a good sign in hearing that Taylor wants to walk. The feelings within are not expressions that can be written. I feel so blessed for this day, tomorrow and ALWAYS.

Time has gone by and Taylor is in Grade 2 and at a new and wonderful school. He has progressed extremely well in all parts of life. He still has a long ways to go, but Taylor will never be alone. Not only does he put a glow on my face and the added sparkle to my eyes, he adds such warmth and love to all when he enters a room and leaves. As the saying, "Heartprints."

Since the year of 2001, Taylor has had two new procedures of Botox Therapy to help his leg muscles in not being so terribly tight verses to not having the surgery to lengthen. So far, it has been very sucessful. Both procedures were 7 injections per leg, 14 total.

Taylor is in Grade 4 now. He has had a successful surgery to his eyes in March of 2002 as they were so extremely tight in the muscles and the eyes wandered going outward also. There has been so much strength given in life from my little man, that we can surely face just about anything, well, I will not give a definite quote on that one just as yet. "Smiles."