Hey guys, as many of you may know, my brother Taylor was in a severe climbing accident this past Tuesday. He suffered a compound fracture in his right leg. His foot hit the rock with so much force that his tibia and fibula punctured through his skin. So far, he has had a permanent pin placed in his fibula to straighten the bone. Thankfully, the break in the fibula was a clean one. Unfortunately, the tibia shattered from the bottom to mid-way up his calf. Due to swelling, surgery can’t be performed for another week to fix the broken pieces. (Even worse, another week in the hospital losing to me in Uno.)

We are also waiting to fix the hole caused by his bones breaking the skin. The ideal plan for the skin graft was to take tissue and connector veins from the back of Taylor's calf and graft it over his ankle. However, when the doctors went to perform this operation, they discovered that the vein they wanted to use was more damaged than initially thought. Therefore, the plastic surgery team will discuss a different option this week. We are not sure what will be involved, but we are all hoping for the least invasive option possible.

So, we have two more surgeries in the future. That number could increase, but hopefully, those will be all that are needed. In conclusion, Taylor will have a long recovery in front of him. Not only physically but mentally as well. We know that Taylor has so many people who love him, and he has been overwhelmed with the support and love from your texts and calls about him.

For those of you who know Taylor, you know he is one of the most determined, intellectual, and compassionate people you will ever meet. If you are a friend of Taylor’s, you are a friend for life. But, if you are close to Taylor, you also know he is one of the most stubborn people you will come across. He does not like to ask for help, and he does not want to inconvenience people. But luckily, Taylor has an awesome sister who does not mind doing this for him.

Taylor will be a full-time student at UNC Ashville with three more semesters to finish his engineering degree. (He got the smarts in the family.) On top of his school tuition, Taylor will have some medical bills in the future. Taylor has coverage insurance for this accident, but he also works an outdoor job mowing, fencing, and working around his boss’s farm. Due to this injury, Taylor will be unable to work indefinitely until he literally gets his feet back under him. He will be non-weight bearing for 8-10 weeks, meaning he cannot drive. Uber eats, Uber groceries, and Uber driving will become his best friend. (No free ads here, but Uber?? If you’re interested??)

In conclusion, Taylor has a long road ahead for a full recovery. As someone who loves him dearly, I want him to focus on healing his body and mind these next few months. I do not want him stressed about finances on top of everything else. Therefore, I am asking for donations for Taylor and his future recovery. Any amount would be incredible and highly appreciated. If you can’t donate at this time, a text of encouragement or advice to Taylor would also be greatly treasured. Taylor has a great support system, and we are all so grateful for the love he has received. Thank you, guys, for everything!