Taylor's story in my words and from what I've put together:

Taylor and another friend decided to go up Butterfield Canyon late Monday evening.  They left the canyon around 10:00 p.m.  Taylor was driving and she, for what ever reason, made the choice to not put on her seat belt.  Thank goodness her friend buckled up.  They were coming down the canyon at a high rate of speed, exceeding 60 mph.  Taylor was not able to make a curve in the road and tried to correct and the car went out of control, rolling at least three times through two fences and eventually slamming into a tree.  Taylor's girl friend was able to climb out of the window and flag down someone for help.  The ambulance came and took both girls to IHC.  I understand the people that were flagged down were both experienced in medicine and were able to carefully get Taylor out of the car and stabilize her until the ambulance got there. 

Today is Wednesday, July 19 and Taylor and her parents have been told the sad truth that Taylor is paralyzed from the chest down.  She can breath on her own and has use of her arms and hands. 

The family was saddened by the news and literally mourned the loss of Taylor's use of her lower limbs but celebrated that we still had her with us and that there were no brain injuries.  I remember thinking, as I looked at Taylor lying so still in her hospital bed, that Maren must have gotten the "mother's curse" at some point . . . . you know the one . . . "I hope someday you have a child just like you!"  One thing I learned as a mother is that God doesn't want me to fix everyone's problems for them.  He expects them to have these terrible experiences because it is part of his plan.  The struggle is the thing that makes us strong . . so long as we keep our faith.  It is the trial of our faith that is the purpose of this mortal existence.  I've heard lot's of people say that life He never gives us more than we can handle, but I'm not so sure about this one.  I'm not even sure that He designs each trial or difficulty for us as much as He knows that we will be subject to them like we are the weather.  While I believe He can send the whirlwind, I don't think He sends it so much as He knows it will eventually come to all of us if we live in this sphere.  Whether we are prepared or not is up to us, to some extent.

It is a long and difficult journey ahead for Taylor, her parents and her brothers.  Taylor is strong and will hopefully use that strength to do good and live a full life - just very different from what we all thought it would be.

Here are some pictures of the car and Taylor: