Even though we do not usually respond to comments posted on Taylor’s website, we do actually read them to her. It is wonderful how many people John, Inge, and I talk to who say that they follow the website. This is great encouragement for Taylor.

Now that we are back in Los Angeles, several of Taylor’s childhood friends have come by to visit her. I let them close the door so that they can be with her alone and immediately the gossip, giggling and laughter start. I notice that after one of these visits, Taylor wants to try more things on her own, to push herself more. It is great that she is able to be with people her own age (otherwise, she spends the whole day with her old fogie parents – how fun can that be, right?). At the end of July, two of Taylor’s dorm friends from MIT will be visiting.

Thank you, dear friends, for keeping up with us, your words of encouragement and all of your support!

Back in Boston we got a big favor that has never been acknowledged. We were in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and were about to be transferred to a general purpose floor for continued recovery. This was bad news to us because we had been telling the staff for the last two weeks that we need to be in the Neurology department because Taylor’s challenges at that time were all about her neurology. The excuse we kept hearing was that there was no room in Neurology. This was frustrating because when we asked questions we were told that “this is a neurology question” and that as members of the cardiac team they couldn’t help us. The idea of being transferred to a general purpose floor was worrying us.

Around this time Dr. Robert Langer, James Dahlman, and a few members of Taylor’s lab came to visit. “Bob” Langer is the Principal Investigator (PI) of Taylor’s lab and James is her lab supervisor. They asked if there was anything they could do to help and I mentioned the situation about getting to the neurology floor and that we were frustrated. They mentioned that they would try to see what they could do and left. About 20 minutes later, The nurse came in and told us we would be moving to the neurology floor. Later I got a call from James who asked me if we got transferred to the neurology floor.

Unlike all the super smart people at MIT, I am a bit slow on the uptake, it happened so soon after they left that I didn’t immediately make the connection. Though we will never know for sure, looking back now I am pretty sure Bob, who is a giant in academic research, intervened on Taylor’s behalf and contacted who he could to help Taylor get the care she needed. Time after time we have seen how the MIT community looks after their own. We are grateful to count them among the many angels, near and far, who have helped smooth the road to Taylor’s recovery. Thank you Bob and James.

After some friends of Taylor learned that her air ambulance from Boston to Denver was not covered by insurance, (it was a mad dash to pull together the considerable unexpected cost and pay for it that morning) many of you suggested we start a fund to collect for just these kind of expenses. We initially resisted out of stubbornness but a family friend, Alison Glen, took matters into her own hands and generously set up an online account to accept donations for Taylor at the following web address:

http://www.gofundme.com/80y39o

Any funds collected will be put toward expenses not covered by insurance to help her development. Examples may include equipment and expenses used to setup a home for Taylor in Los Angeles after rehab. Any help you give is greatly appreciated.

We have turned on Taylor’s cell phone and she would like to receive text and/or voicemail messages from her friends. Please leave your messages for her, and we’ll read or play them for her.

Many of you have asked how to send things to us at Craig Hospital. I meant to add the address to the last post but forgot, so here it is.  Please be sure to add Taylor’s name to anything you send.

Patient: Taylor Shaw
c/o Craig Hospital
3425 S. Clarkson Street
Englewood, CO, 80113

Some time ago Taylor grew an avocado tree from a seed she got from a grocery store avocado. Apparently a grocery store avocado can sometimes grow into a plant if the seed is split. Taylor heard this and when she found one she grew a healthy little tree which she deposited in my care after going to MIT. Of course I have a black thumb and so now the plant is in bad shape. Just like Taylor it needs some rehab.

My girlfriend Inge, who is a farmer’s daughter and has a green thumb, replanted it with healthy soil but it still looks kind of sickly.

Something is eating this plant. Does anyone have an idea what is eating the leaves and making them look so sickly? Does anyone know how to get rid of it?

Climate wise, the plant is in Los Angeles, Venice Beach to be exact. This is a challenge to all you southern California gardeners out there.