Scary Times Indeed...Taylor Enters Intensive Care Unit

At 1:30 this afternoon, after another horrible night of no sleep, constant monitoring and unsuccessful respiratory treatments, the head doctor decided Tay needed to enter the Intensive Care Unit where he could receive the utmost care.  Once he "turns the corner," they should be able to downgrade him back to a normal hospital room...a room where, best case scenario, we'll be in another 7 days.

The reason for the move to the ICU?  Taylor is fighting two illnesses, pneumonia and the RSV virus <click here for more info on RSV>.  His immune system is pretty low, so he's having a hard time fighting off these viruses.  RSV is similar to the common cold...the only treatment is to give a lot oxygen, continually suction the mucus in the nose and throat...and give the body time to build up antibodies to fight it off.  Typical children don't require hospitlization.  They will fight it off within 7 - 10 days.  Taylor has been receiving oxygen through a nostril ventilators 24 hours a day since he's been here.  He wasn't getting enough oxygen and his lungs were having to work too hard to suck in enough air so ICU was the next logical step.

He now has a more permanent IV, something called a PICC.  It's an IV line that starts in his arm, enters the vein and goes all the way up, just above his heart.  Through this, they can administer all of his medications as well as nourishment (b/c he can no longer eat/drink on his own).  The best part...they can pull blood samples from this as well, so he doesn't have to be a pin cushion two or three times a day.   He also has an oxygen mask taped to his face 24hrs a day.

The head doctor used the word "precarious" to describe Taylor's condition right now.  Quite a juxtaposition of events....finally after battling his seizures for 9 months, we get them under control, only to have him fighting for his life from pneumonia.  Not ideal, but we have faith in Taylor's ability to fight through this.
We're in good hands.  Taylor has proved to be a strong little tyke.  He's just pretty amazing.

Mom or Dad or both are always by his side 24 hrs a day...along with his pals, Ellie the Elephant and Hobbes.
Thank you again for your prayers, concerns and well wishes for Taylor.  God definitely has a plan for him.