Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Wednesday, January 14

I talked to Tammy this evening, they extubated Taylor this morning at 8:05. I know she was glad to get that tube out of her throat. She responded pretty normal, as she was really raspy at first. They did a breathing treatment of Racemic Epinephrine and that seemed to really help.

Around 11, Taylor started to show signs of what the Neurologist calls "Chorea." Taylor has been vigorously moving her arms in a bicycling movement for a good part of the afternoon. Dr. Birch (the Neurologist) said it could be a result of her coming off the sedatives or a result of possible injury to the basal ganglia area of the brain. She feels like it could be a temporary thing. She even said her own daughter had Chorea until she was 7 months of age and it kind of went away on its own. Once again, this may be an area that we will just have to wait and let Taylor tell us.

According National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke website, Chorea is an abnormal voluntary movement disorder, which is caused by over activity of the neurotransmitter dopamine in the areas of the brain that control movement.

They have given her Valium, Methadone, and Morphine to help keep her comfortable. Taylor’s blood pressure has been slightly elevated today with all the excitement. So they are also going to give her a medication called Clonidine, which lowers blood pressure by decreasing the levels of certain chemicals in the blood. It should also help relax the muscle movements.

Another concern from today… As of right now, Taylor is not tracking with her eyes. They had mentioned in the MRI that they saw minor abnormalities on the left side of the brain. Well, it looks as if her occipital lobe may have taken a hit. The occipital lobes are the center of our visual perception system. Due to Taylor being sedated, it’s hard to determine if she can see or not. There are test they can run later, but she will have to be off sedation to really get a good picture of what's going on.

I think everyone was discouraged with the news today and sounded exhausted. It’s hard to stay even keeled and not get too high with the good news and too low when things hit a speed bump. We have to remember that this is going to be a long journey. We just need to continue to have faith that God is going to take care of Taylor.

Please continue to Pray for Taylor, our Prayers will be answered! God Bless.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Jeff, Tammy, and family,
We know that the news from today seems discouraging, but know that God is with Taylor. We are still praying for her healing and so are so many other people. Your family is in our prayers daily. Trust in God and keep your heads up. God has a plan for Taylor. We love you guys!
Love, Jamie, Tabitha, and Kamdyn

Anonymous said...

Keep the faith. It's going to be a long journey, but she is in good hands. The hands of Christ. See you soon. We love you guys. Tim, Jaime, Blasi, Cole.

Anonymous said...

Kelly Clarke said...
Jeff, Tammy and family,
Please remember that each new day... brings new miracles.
We'll continue to pray for those daily miracles for Taylor and your family.
God bless!
Kelly Clarke

Anonymous said...

Keep the faith! Taylor has come so far already, and shown us some amazing things! Taylor is in God's hands, and with his touch, anything is possible! I know it is hard to not get dsicouraged, but just think about how far she has already come and the odds that she has already defied! Keep your heads up, and prayers going...I know we are! Thinking of you so very often...
The Buckley Family

Anonymous said...

Jeff Tammy and Family,

I am so sorry to hear the news of little Taylor. Adrian, Annabelle and Myself are keeping you in our prayers and thoughts. I will also ask the congregation at our church to say a prayer for you and your family. Keep the faith and be strong. If you need ANYTHING i am right down the street...please let us know.

The Otero Family

But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on
faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet.

1 Thessalonians 5:8

Anonymous said...

Say this prayer on Taylor's behalf:
I pray to you, Lord, to ask you the courage to clam my fears and accept your will; to keep my mind and spirit pure even while the flesh is weak. I ask you to strengthen my body and wash away my illness in order that I may continue to enjoy loved ones close to me in this world. I fear my passing from this earth, O Lord, even while knowing that as mortals we all must. I know that you have a plan and a purpose for my life; that you and you alone hold in your hands the fate of all mankind before me and all those yet to come. I ask that you walk close beside me through these times. I ask this in your name, O Lord. Amen
This prayer card was given to me when I became very ill and had a huge battle to face. I was a SWMS employee and this was given to me by another member of the SWMS family. They will be there for you with prayer and whatever else you need. Please know that Taylor and your family have been being prayed for by members of my church. Keep your faith and hopefully soon the good news will far out weigh the bad. I wish I could do more but I will continue to pray for you all.

Gloria said...

Jeff, Tammy and to all the Whitehead family, you all have been in our prayers, since we heard from Jaime about Taylor, we put her name in our praying chain here in Urbana.
You all take care, and the Lord is watching over Taylor.
God blees you all.
Love, The Zieser's
Jim, Gloria and family

Anonymous said...

Tammy & Jeff, You are in our thoughts and prayers. Hang in there.
As the Lord said in his prayer: "Thy Will be Done on Earth as it is in Heaven." You are doing all you can for Taylor. Now take care of yourselves.
Love, Grand Pa R & Virginia

Anonymous said...

Keeping Taylor in my thoughts and prayers. Best wishes for continued healing.

Katie Johnson, College Community School District

Anonymous said...

Tammy,Jeff and family...
We pray faithfully for Taylor EVERYDAY! Just wanted you all to know that we love you and if there is anything that yall need~please let us know!

In Matthew 17:20 it says if your faith is as big as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, "Move from here to there", and it will move. All things are possible!!

And a mustard seed is tiny!...Keep the faith!

Love James, Christy and all the Carlyle girls...Emma, Sydney, & Abbey