Teacher raising money for son’s treatment

DOWNEY − Jeremy Taylor was just three weeks out of high school when he was thrown from a vehicle in a tragic car accident nearly four years ago. “He was pretty much dead when they found him,” said Laura Taylor, Jeremy’s mother. “He had no broken bones, but suffered brain trauma.”

After years of rehabilitation, Jeremy is close to walking again, but the treatment required is costly and not covered by the family’s health insurance. With a need of $1,500 - $3,000 a month for rehabilitation, the Taylor family is hoping to raise at least $50,000 during a benefit concert in Fullerton this Saturday.

“He’s getting closer to walking so we’re ramping up the physical therapy,” said Laura Taylor, who’s taught music classes at Griffiths Middle School in Downey for 28 years. “For me as a mother, I can’t look back and say I didn’t do all I could. Jeremy can read and write...he can speak, but we want him to be able to do other things.”

Before the accident, Jeremy was adventurous, in love with outdoor sports like dirt biking and snowboarding. Just another motivation to get the now 22-year-old up on his feet again.

“He only has one time to recover so as long as he’s still progressing, we want him to do what he can. It’s been a long journey, but he’s coming around,” she said.

The benefit concert, which will have a Kawasaki motorcycle theme, is this Saturday, June 14 from 3-5 p.m. at First Evangelical Free Church in Fullerton. Tickets cost $25 per person. The concert will include performances by local opera and musical theatre professionals, such as alto saxophonist Fabian Chavez.

For more information or to donate, call (562) 544-7504 or visit gofundme.com/88ipew.

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Published: June 12, 2014 - Volume 13 - Issue 09