Dear Friend:

I am writing on behalf of Taylor Price. A group of friends and family members are organizing a charitable campaign to give financial assistance to Taylor Price today and into the future. An Irrevocable Trust has been established to receive and manage all contributions, and is intended to operate in a way that completely segregates all monies to be used specifically for the benefit of Taylor’s long term care and rehabilitation. Below are additional details about Taylor’s injury, his current physical condition and needs, including the present and future financial issues facing Taylor and the critical need for your generosity.

By way of background, on July 8, Taylor suffered a Cervical “C-5” Spinal Cord Injury while diving into the ocean. He was immediately flown by medical helicopter to Stony Brook Hospital and underwent surgery that evening. On July 19 he was moved to the Shepherd Center, a catastrophic care hospital in Atlanta, where he was a patient for the next 4 months.

Taylor’s injuries are physically devastating and present significant challenges in all his daily activities. He has a complete loss of muscle control and movement in all parts of his body below the level of his injury, namely his chest. Taylor has limited movement and control in his arms, but no finite motor skills in his fingers. These are the classic results of a C-5 Spinal Cord Injury and they are usually permanent. Although our hopes and prayers are for additional recovery, whether through increased rehabilitation, new medical research or divine intervention, Taylor Price is a quadriplegic and plans must be based on the expected outcomes of this injury for the remainder of Taylor’s life.

The most basic requirements and activities of daily life have been severely altered for Taylor. Of course, Taylor is wheelchair-bound. He has learned to operate a power chair with good skill and has some limited ability to move around in a manual wheelchair.

But this decreased mobility is only the tip of the iceberg. Taylor requires total assistance for such basic care activities as bowel and bladder care, dressing, bathing, showering, positioning for pressure relief, and transferring from his chair to his bed, van, etc. There are also physical complications affecting Taylor such as skin conditions, bone growth and coughing abilities that require treatment, care and attention.

Taylor requires partial assistance for eating, grooming, use of computer, TV, stereo and other electronic devices, writing, page turning, and exercise. In short, Taylor requires some kind of assistance for most activities, whether in or out of his wheelchair. He is learning to use hand splints and other adaptive equipment, which give him more independence for some of these tasks. Taylor Price is strong-willed, courageous, positive and absolutely dedicated to making himself as self-sufficient as he possibly can be. To get just a glimpse of Taylor right now, log on to http://www.taylorprice.org .It is an uplifting experience.

As is evident, the need for assistance from a professional care provider is crucial and permanent. A recent publication by the Consortium for Spinal Cord Medicine estimates that C-5 SCI patients require personal care assistance for a major portion of the day. Custodial assistance is expensive and it is not covered by private insurance. Significant expenditures have already been incurred for housing modifications, a wheelchair-outfitted van, and rehab equipment.

Many have reached out since July with real expressions of love for Taylor, namely, visits, letter-writing, phone calls, prayers, and taking care of life’s little odds and ends. This has been inspirational for him. But now is the time to consider a financial contribution to provide a life-long support system for Taylor.

Taylor Price has many dreams and intends to pursue them. Attending Georgetown University, graduating and growing into a productive person are just a few of them. Rest assured, on the inside, he is the same Taylor Price we know and love. But now he needs us all to help make his dreams a reality. Let’s contribute to this wonderful young man’s future now or with a multi-year pledge.

Our goal is to raise enough funds to provide income on an ongoing basis to cover the costs associated with Taylor’s care that are not covered by insurance, particularly the personal care assistance needed for his daily activities. Given that these costs are extremely expensive, the Fund will need to be significant. I hope you will consider making a donation to the “Taylor Price Special Needs Trust.” If you have already made a contribution, thank you on behalf of Taylor.

I look forward to speaking with you about this shortly and I will be happy to answer any questions you may have to the best of my ability.

Sincerely,

Neil H. Sherman