By Lisa Ansay —
His day begins the same each morning: very early medications; a trip to the bathroom and he crawls back into bed for a few more hours of sleep. Sometimes he prefers quiet, with the hum of the fan or humidifier. Mostly he prefers a little music for the early-morning, usually classical guitar or something else, but always without vocals. Loved ones have sent much of what he listens to in the early morning hours; either music they knew Taylor would enjoy, or music they have performed themselves.
His room is adorned with gifts from all of you. Prayer beads drape over a bin on his dresser. Some are wooden; some are with crosses and some with tassels. He loves the shape of the cross and will often hold them with the cross in hand. A loved one sent a smooth, carved cross meant to be held – like a worry stone – and that is either in his hand or in his pocket – at all times.
An ornate cross hangs in the window – a message from a loved one scrawled on the back, along with a Bible verse – Romans 15:13. Stuffed animals from friends sit propped on bookshelves, and cards that have come most recently lay in the drawers at his bedside.
The toothbrush he uses everyday was also a gift from a loved one. It’s one of those expensive, rechargeable types – and it is absolutely perfect for the challenges he faces right now with the structure of his jaw/mouth. He considers it invaluable in his mouth care regimen, which had become agonizing for him after the accident, but has always been a priority for him.
The sneakers he wears for his physical therapy each day were purchased through donations from a car wash his friends held in his honor. Many of the sweats and workout clothes he wears everyday were also purchased through benefit fund donations.
Chiropractic care and massage therapy sessions have been donated as well as haircuts and other services. A man he only met once gave him a Bowflex weight set and bench to help with his rehabilitation.
And the list goes on and on…
Prayer quilts and crocheted blankets are always within reach to fight the chill and loved ones have sent many of the books we read. Audiobooks are played both in the car and on his iPod. Family and friends have provided virtually all of the audiobooks in his library and Taylor has quite the library.
Your words of encouragement are read everyday, and the communications through email, phone calls and texts are a huge part of the wind in his sails. And his sails are full. Quite full.
To look around any room of our Therapy House as we move through our day – from early pre-dawn hours, through the various therapies and activities, to the moment he crawls back into bed, it is chockfull of your love, prayers, encouragement, and hope.
His days are possible in all the blessings the Lord has shown in this astounding journey. And those days are filled with all the miracles still running in the background in Taylor’s faith in Christ. In his Faith, the healing is imminent. -Taylor’s words, he added this.
With the love and support he feels from all that you do, and say, and pray for – in the little things that surround him each day – his sails are full, and he is full-speed-ahead.
