Taylor's Therapy Dog Fund (Crohns)
Donation protected
Spring Break 2014. Primary Children’s Hospital, Salt Lake City, Utah.
We didn’t expect to spend our holiday there. But when your new Dr. calls and says “Mr. Stevens you don’t know who I am, but I need you to come up right away to the emergency room with your son. We have a team waiting for you” You do as your told. That visit we spent seven hours just waiting for them to decide in the Emergency room what to do.
Our oldest son, Taylor, was diagnosed with a severe case of Crohn’s Disease after multiple doctor visits, X-rays, blood draws and with a finial endoscopy and colonoscopy they were able to determine that in fact he had been suffering from a disease since the second grade that people usually get that are over twice his age.
As his doctor broke down the options I wasn't able to compose myself. This is really what we have to choose from? I really don’t want to make this decision. This can’t really be happening, can it? John and I hashed out all the options with the Doctor over and over again. The side effects of the meds were like a horror story. That… or a feeding tube.
A feeding tube was out of the question since Taylor had just had one inserted the night before and wasn’t about to have that again. There we chose the med option that the Doctor recommended to start with first. That didn’t cut it alone. We had to add on to the new drug called Remicade which is a low dose of Chemotherapy indefinitely or until his body builds up antibodies against the drug every 8 weeks we make a 3 hour visit to the hospital to get him another infusion. It lowers his immune system just enough to not let it attack its digestive tract.
Foods that he now has to avoid due to rehabilitating “labor like” pains are foods we eat everyday. Apples, carrots, nuts and larger seeds, beans, spicy foods. You'd be surprised how quick you learn. The reaction he feels eating normal foods reminds me of food poisoning with waves of pain between his bathroom visits.
Stress and anxiety can also make his symptoms creep up. Even if he is eating right but worries to much or is stressed from a situation he is again suffering from Crohn’s symptoms.
Due to his weakened immune system we never know when a sickness is landing us in the hospital. We are constantly on our toes (a feeling only a parent of a chronically sick child could understand.)
We teach him all people on earth have their trials. Also, he can use the experiences he has to help others. We've been able to meet all kinds of doctors. I like to remind him that if he chooses to be in one of these fields just think of how much he would be able to help since being through it first hand.
We point out the good in life as much as we can. But a kid this young shouldn’t have to deal with an adult disease.
Fast forward. June 2015. We decide a therapy dog is just what this boy needs to help keep his symptoms at bay or at least comfort him when in pain.
We adopted the newest member of our family, Mac. An amazing well tempered English Cream Golden Retriever. Therapy dogs go through hours and hours of training. The price can be astronomical (not to mention Taylor’s ongoing treatment and DR. visits). But, one step after another we are following the path we feel we should be on to give Taylor every aspect of help he needs to live through this day after day.
We have started this GOFUNDME (with Taylor’s permission, we do not want to embarrass him) campaign to help with the costs of training Mac to be a certified Therapy Dog. Anything extra will go towards helping defray the medical costs. This is something that our son will have to deal with for the rest of his life.
I truly believe he was sent to us as a gift. The breeder gave us some negotiating wiggle room because she felt it was important that Taylor have this puppy.
I hope that though this life Taylor has been dealt we can all learn, regardless of our circumstances, to be grateful for what you have, help others, and be kind.
No . Matter . What.
http://youtu.be/k0kRSF80PJ0
We didn’t expect to spend our holiday there. But when your new Dr. calls and says “Mr. Stevens you don’t know who I am, but I need you to come up right away to the emergency room with your son. We have a team waiting for you” You do as your told. That visit we spent seven hours just waiting for them to decide in the Emergency room what to do.
Our oldest son, Taylor, was diagnosed with a severe case of Crohn’s Disease after multiple doctor visits, X-rays, blood draws and with a finial endoscopy and colonoscopy they were able to determine that in fact he had been suffering from a disease since the second grade that people usually get that are over twice his age.
As his doctor broke down the options I wasn't able to compose myself. This is really what we have to choose from? I really don’t want to make this decision. This can’t really be happening, can it? John and I hashed out all the options with the Doctor over and over again. The side effects of the meds were like a horror story. That… or a feeding tube.
A feeding tube was out of the question since Taylor had just had one inserted the night before and wasn’t about to have that again. There we chose the med option that the Doctor recommended to start with first. That didn’t cut it alone. We had to add on to the new drug called Remicade which is a low dose of Chemotherapy indefinitely or until his body builds up antibodies against the drug every 8 weeks we make a 3 hour visit to the hospital to get him another infusion. It lowers his immune system just enough to not let it attack its digestive tract.
Foods that he now has to avoid due to rehabilitating “labor like” pains are foods we eat everyday. Apples, carrots, nuts and larger seeds, beans, spicy foods. You'd be surprised how quick you learn. The reaction he feels eating normal foods reminds me of food poisoning with waves of pain between his bathroom visits.
Stress and anxiety can also make his symptoms creep up. Even if he is eating right but worries to much or is stressed from a situation he is again suffering from Crohn’s symptoms.
Due to his weakened immune system we never know when a sickness is landing us in the hospital. We are constantly on our toes (a feeling only a parent of a chronically sick child could understand.)
We teach him all people on earth have their trials. Also, he can use the experiences he has to help others. We've been able to meet all kinds of doctors. I like to remind him that if he chooses to be in one of these fields just think of how much he would be able to help since being through it first hand.
We point out the good in life as much as we can. But a kid this young shouldn’t have to deal with an adult disease.
Fast forward. June 2015. We decide a therapy dog is just what this boy needs to help keep his symptoms at bay or at least comfort him when in pain.
We adopted the newest member of our family, Mac. An amazing well tempered English Cream Golden Retriever. Therapy dogs go through hours and hours of training. The price can be astronomical (not to mention Taylor’s ongoing treatment and DR. visits). But, one step after another we are following the path we feel we should be on to give Taylor every aspect of help he needs to live through this day after day.
We have started this GOFUNDME (with Taylor’s permission, we do not want to embarrass him) campaign to help with the costs of training Mac to be a certified Therapy Dog. Anything extra will go towards helping defray the medical costs. This is something that our son will have to deal with for the rest of his life.
I truly believe he was sent to us as a gift. The breeder gave us some negotiating wiggle room because she felt it was important that Taylor have this puppy.
I hope that though this life Taylor has been dealt we can all learn, regardless of our circumstances, to be grateful for what you have, help others, and be kind.
No . Matter . What.
http://youtu.be/k0kRSF80PJ0
Organizer
Mindy McClure Stevens
Organizer
Pleasant Grove, UT