HE SHOOTS, HE SCORES

This afternoon Taylor and Gavin had a friendly little game of one on one against one another.  Taylor is loving being able to be active do things again!

 

I snagged this picture of him while he
was lacing up his shoes for the BIG game.

TAYLOR TALKS

Throughout Taylor's cancer journey, we have felt the love of our community.  Especially that of our ward.  Every time we turned around we had people, young and old inquiring of Taylor's condition and always telling us they were praying for him.  One of the things that really touched Taylor was when he would hear about the little children who were praying for him.  

It made such an impact on him.  He felt like he wanted to do something to let them know how much it meant to him.  We talked to our Primary President and asked if there was a time when he could come in and talk to the children.  She was thrilled with the idea and asked Taylor to take 5-10 minutes during both Jr. & Sr. sharing time.

Taylor prepared a talk on prayer and the impact it has had on his life.  Most particularly in regards to his cancer.  He relayed to the children how much he had turned to Heavenly Father to help him with his fight against cancer,  He also talked about how much he appreciated the primary children praying for him.  He expressed his belief in prayer and also his love and gratitude for the prayers which have been offered in his behalf.  He gave each of the children one of his "Team Taylor" wristbands and told them how much he loved them.  

 He encouraged the children to call on God whenever they needed him and that their prayers would be answered.  It was a weepy, proud moment for this mama!

MAKE A WISH

This evening we were honored to attend our appointment at the Make A Wish foundation in Murray.  It was an incredible experience!  

When we arrived, there in the entry was a large sign welcoming Taylor.

The volunteers waiting for us, wanted to take his picture, but he was to shy.  (His weight still bothers him so much.)  He did let me take one as we were leaving.

We were introduced to the volunteers who would be coordinating Taylor's wish and given a tour of the facility.  Each member of our family was given a token.  Then we were asked to step outside to the back of the building where we were asked to toss our tokens and to make individual wishes, simultaneously.  After making our wishes, we went back inside and continued our tour.

In the main hallway, way up high, are hundreds of beautiful glass stars.

Each star has a child's name and their wish on it.  After a child has received their wish a party is held in their honor and they are presented a star which they get to raise.  From the hallway we were taken to another area to a wall which held pictures of the children whose wishes were currently in the process of being granted.  Next we went upstairs to a "family" area.  We sat and visited with the coordinators.  They asked questions about our family, Taylor and his experience.  Then they begun to ask him what kinds of things he might like to wish for.

Tay has had a long time to think about this, yet he was still undecided.  He is such a practical boy that it has been hard for him.  He has been concerned about how much certain things would cost.  He is concerned that if he chose some kind of trip he would have a hard time making up all the schoolwork he would miss.  This put a nix on him wishing for the tropical vacation Shane, Jonah and myself were hoping for.

After much thought, he finally narrowed it down to the two wishes the foundation had asked for.  1 -To meet the San Francisco 49er's  2 - To go on a shopping spree.

We were each given a special piece of paper and asked to write down our wish for Taylor.  Taylor was asked to write down his two make a wishes.  Then we were taken to the "Wishing Tower".  Taylor had to use the special key which was sent to him in order to open the tower.

The tower was magical!  It was a circular room which held only a beautiful water feature in the center of the room.  The only light was that which illuminated from the floor tiles.  We were each asked to read our wishes for Taylor aloud.  Aah, talk about tear jerking.

Coordinator Annie wished that he would always love life and find happiness in everything.  Coordinator Renee wished that he would always have lots of fun doing what he loved.  Coordinator Carlee wished that he would have a great time and that his teachers would be extra nice.  Jonah wished that he would have no more cancer and get one of his wishes. Shane wished that he would have good health for the rest of his life and that his life would always be as happy and joyful as he is now.  I wished that he will never have cancer again and that he will live a long and happy life and that all of his dreams will come true.Once we finished sobbing, Taylor was asked to follow the tiles as they lit up on the floor.

They illumination took him behind the fountain where he was asked to read his wish aloud.  After reading his wish, he put his paper in a small tube which emerged from the floor and submerged once his wish was inserted.

It was such an amazing experience!

IT BREAKS MY HEART

In a innocent interaction this morning, Taylor divulged something that broke my heart.  I was in the kitchen preparing food to take dinner into a sick friend, and for Shane's parents, when Taylor came in and said he wasn't feeling very well.  This makes the third Sunday in a row that he has felt like this.  I asked him if he had eaten anything this morning.  Wondering if maybe that could be part of it.

He replied, "No, I am fasting."  I inquired as to why. His answer was simple, yet still took my breath away.  He told me that he is worried that his cancer has come back, or is going to.  He said he has been having lots of dreams about it.  That his back itches in the same place and in the same way it did when things first started.  His tone of voice and demeanor displayed his concern.  It broke my heart then and it breaks my heart now.

I have thought about it a lot today.  It is so sad that he has to even think about it.  He has been through so much. It breaks my heart!

He is working really hard at losing weight, and is looking really good.  He is having a hard time understanding that his body changed from boy to man while he had cancer and he will never look the same.  

CHECKING UP, CHECKING IN

Taylor had a check up with Dr. Barnette today.  These appointments seem to cause me great anxiety.  I am always fearful we will be told that the cancer is back and with a vengeance.  It's a fear that I can't seem to shake.

It was also picture retake day and since Taylor had been home sick the day pictures were taken, we had to go to the school before we could go to the hospital.

It took longer than expected and I was worried we would be late to Taylor's appointment.  No worries, we sat in the waiting room for well over an hour before they even brought him the contrast he needed to drink in order to perform the scans.  He really hates the stuff!  This time he chose to have it put into rootbeer.  Three cans of it!

They did scans and lab work and then we were on our way to oncology.  An hour after our scheduled appointment.  By the time we did everything, saw everyone, and got his flu shot, we were there for over 5 hours.  Yuck!

We met with Dr. Barnette and Dr. Verma and they seemed positive about the way things are going.  Taylor's scans looked good.  The largest irremovable node is now measuring 1 cm.  Which is great, compared to the 5 and 1/2 cm circumference, where we started.  We were told to keep doing what we are doing, and go back in three months for more scans and labs.  At that time he will also have another echo and pulmonary function test.

THE KEY TO THE CASTLE

A package was delivered to our home this afternoon.  Addressed to Taylor.  Inside he found this.

Last week I received a call from the Make-A-Wish foundation.  They informed me Taylor had been nominated by several people to receive a wish.  The package requested we make an appointment to begin the process.  Taylor is very excited, but hesitant.  He is so practical that he isn't sure what to wish for.  So humble that he doesn't think he deserves it.

IT'S A RACE!

We wanted to express our deep and heartfelt thanks to all who participated in 5k/Fun Run this morning. We are overcome by the showing of love and support for Taylor and our family.  It was with great difficulty that we held back the tears.

This has been a long and difficult journey for our family.  One which would have been much more difficult without you! 

Please know how appreciative we are for your prayers, for your support and for the outpouring of love you have shown our family.  We love each of  you and are so grateful to have you in our lives.

REGISTRATION

 

5k RUNNERS

 FAMILY FUN RUN

 

  BREAKFAST AND FRIENDS

 Taylor and Mr. Christopherson

 (He was Taylor's 5th grade teacher.  

He volunteered his time and efforts to supply music for the event.)

Taylor & Pam Moulton

(Taylor and Pam's son were good friends in the old hood.)

Cute little Miranda

Taylor and some of the Archuleta Family

(Taylor and I started the fun run together, 

but he was determined to run the whole time.  

I stopped to take pictures and he finished the run with the Archuleta's.  

Taylor, Rachel & Brylee
Rachel is a dear friend of mine.
She made the cute shirts she and Brylee
are wearing, just for the race.

Taylor asked to take a minute and thank everyone.
And our sweet neighbor, Christy, (in the hat)
who put the whole thing together. 

Granny & Grandpa Davis