Kristin Hill Taylor

Seeking God as the Author of Every Story

  • Home
  • About
  • Books
    • Peace in the Process
    • Bringing Home More Than Groceries
  • Contact

About Jaymin’s Journey

January 14, 2015 by Kristin Leave a Comment

When a local friend asked me if I could help her friend tell the story of her son who needs an out-of-state surgery insurance won’t cover, I quickly realized sharing their story was the least I could do. Yes, it’s part adoption story, which we all know I love, but it’s also one that tugged at my momma heart regardless of how they became a family. In addition to sending the story to local media outlets, I wanted to share the story here too. I know many of your are quick to pray and encourage. This is certainly a situation that needs both those. If you’re inclined to help financially, that’s an option too. 

___________

MURRAY, Ky. – Like any mom, Micheala Toews just wants what is best for her kids. For one of her children, that means traveling regularly for medical therapies and scheduling an out-of-state surgery not covered by insurance.

Three-year-old Jaymin Toews isn’t mobile and doesn’t talk. At 27 weeks pregnant, his birth mom ended up having an emergency Caesarean section after multiple poor choices.

With no heartbeat, Jaymin was 2 pounds at birth in April 2011. Officially, he had severe hemorrhaging on both sides of his brain in the days after birth, leading to a Cerebral Palsy diagnosis.

Though he has exceeded expectations in multiple areas, the damage done to his brain significantly impaired his vision and motor abilities. At 3 years old, he is still unable to sit up, crawl, stand or walk.

Jaymin’s birth mom visited him once in the NICU and then he spent the next month and a half in the hospital with no visitors – until Micheala received a call about him being placed into foster care. That call alone was a miracle because typically children aren’t placed in the foster system until they’re ready to be discharged from the hospital. After 111 days in the NICU, Jaymin was finally able to come home – to Toews’ Calloway County home. In December 2012, Jaymin’s adoption was finalized.

“I fell in love from the very first moment I held that tiny bundle with paper-thin skin and a tiny hat that was far too big for his head!” the proud mom said. “Within a week, he had chubby cheeks. He knew someone was there for him.”

That someone is still here for him.

The current focus is the surgery he needs to address the constant stiffness in his legs, which prevents him from being mobile. Jaymin lies on the floor to play or sits in his chair. He can turn side to side, but he isn’t able to roll all the way over. His mom said he’s getting stronger in his trunk, helping him be able to gradually sit up after lying down. But he needs more balance to correct himself if he tips sideways.

Another goal for this surgery is to avoid his hips becoming dislocated, which would cause much pain and require a major surgery with extended recovery.

The surgery – called Selective Percutaneous Myofascial Lengthening – is scheduled for Feb. 6 near Galveston, Texas. This will lessen the spasticity in Jaymin’s hips. The same procedure may be done in his ankles or knees too, depending on the doctor’s examination. Only done by two doctors in the United States, the surgery is a minimally invasive, out-patient procedure with a short recovery period.

Medicaid won’t pay for surgery because it will be done out of state. Even with the half-off, private-pay discount, the surgery for Jaymin’s hips alone is estimated at 10,900. Should they do more to his knees or ankles, surgery costs could be as much as $14,000 plus travel costs.

Yet it could change Jaymin’s life.

There is an older method of the SPML surgery that is more invasive, takes longer to recover from, and leaves much scar tissue. “I have been researching this for a long time, and firmly believe this is a much better option for Jaymin than traditional surgeries, which often involve cutting muscles, tendons, and/or bones, and have poor functional results,” Micheala Toews said. “There won’t be any scar tissue to deal with later.”

In addition to the lengthening procedure, Jaymin will receive an injection near the nerve that’s making his legs so stiff. Basically, Micheala hopes this will decrease the constant signal from his brain, giving Jaymin about three years to learn new habits that will help him move better.
This surgery is just addressing one area of difficulty in Jaymin’s life. When he was six months old, he had to have a shunt put in after getting really sick and having his head circumference grow 2 inches bigger. He also had a tongue tie clipped.

While his eyes are normal, he has cortical visual impairment because the vision center of his brain was severely damaged. Initially, doctors weren’t sure Jaymin would eat without feeding tubes. He likes his food mushy, but he eats real food. He doesn’t speak, but he does have some sounds that communicate specific meaning – like Mom and music.

“He definitely knows what’s going on,” Micheala said of her son. “I wouldn’t put him at his actual age, but maybe closer to 2. We’ve come a long way from when he was a 1-year-old boy who didn’t react to anything visually. Now he’s pulling things off Walmart shelves. I’m good with that.”

Micheala Toews has been a foster parent for 12 years and had 29 kids in her home throughout the years. In addition to Jaymin, she has 6-year-old twins – one boy and one girl – she also adopted.
“When I was 18, I went to volunteer at a children’s home on an Indian reservation and it got stuck in my blood,” she said about opening her home to children who need a family.

For this family, medical concerns have become part of its everyday life. In fact, the mother had to quit her job as a home health nurse to care for her kids. She sews cloth diapers and is a foster parent support team member.

Jaymin requires therapy to get his body to move better and his brain to function better. For more than two years now, the Anat Baniel Method has proven most effective for Jaymin. This method is a science-based approach that focuses on the child’s brain and its ability to change and learn. It uses slow and gentle movements that get the brain’s attention, so it can learn to create new neural patterns that bypass damaged areas.

Micheala Toews is going through training so she can administer the ABM therapy to her son and eliminate travel to Louisville and Asheville, N.C. Right now they go about once a month to one of those locations and stay several days so Jaymin can have two lessons a day for three to five days at a time.

Anyone interested in donating money to help Jaymin’s surgery and future medical needs may do so at Jaymin’s YouCaring page. Updates on his progress are also posted there as well as on Facebook on the “Jaymin’s Journey” page.

___________

An InLinkz Link-up


___________

And, hey, #ThreeWordWednesday friends, did you see that my ebook is just 99 cents right now – and throughout January? Here’s the post on why I’m celebrating during this cold, dreary month. 

Want more stories? “Peace in the Process: How Adoption Built My Faith & My Family” is available on Amazon. Like me on Facebook, follow me on Twitter, peek into my life on Instagram, follow 152 Insights at Bloglovin’, or subscribe to receive “Insights in Your Inbox.”

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • More
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)

Filed Under: adoption, Three Word Wednesday

Comments

  1. Karen Brown says

    January 14, 2015 at 1:36 pm

    My prayers go out to Jaymin and his family. Thanks for sharing his incredible story.

    Reply
  2. KristinHillTaylor says

    January 14, 2015 at 4:43 pm

    Thanks for praying and being here, Karen!

    Reply
  3. Bethany Boring says

    January 14, 2015 at 5:02 pm

    You just cannot look at his face and NOT smile! It truly is contagious! I'm from Kentucky (not this area) but this story hit home with me today. I wish I could do more. I'm going to keep up with the updates here and make sure my contacts in that area know about this close-by opportunity. What an amazing gift! He is a miracle with a call on his life bigger than anyone can see or imagine right now!

    Reply
  4. KristinHillTaylor says

    January 14, 2015 at 5:14 pm

    Have we talked about how you live in Kentucky?! I've lived in the Bluegrass State my whole life. I grew up in Oldham County and have also lived in Louisville and Lexington briefly. Murray is home now, though. Where are you?

    Anyway … 🙂 Thanks for being here and celebrating Jaymin's life.

    Reply
  5. Kathleen Guire says

    January 14, 2015 at 6:20 pm

    Blessings on this wonderful family. I pray he gets the treatment he needs. My youngest (adopted) was born prematurely and was in the hospital from September until January when he was able to be moved to the orphanage. This story is near and dear to my heart. My son had surgeries and still has delays, not as extensive, but, I can relate.

    Reply
  6. Kathleen Guire says

    January 14, 2015 at 6:22 pm

    And p.s.-what a wonderful countenance Jaymin has!

    Reply
  7. KristinHillTaylor says

    January 14, 2015 at 8:04 pm

    Thanks for praying, Kathleen. I love your heart and am enjoying to getting to hear more of your family's story.

    Reply
  8. melody hester says

    January 14, 2015 at 10:49 pm

    Jaymin is a blessed little boy – the joy he exudes is evidence of God working inside of him and through his Mama. What an incredible story. I am praying for God to provide for Jaymin and his surgery. He has plans for him and they are to prosper him. Prayerfully hopeful for this precious little boy and his family.

    Reply
  9. KristinHillTaylor says

    January 14, 2015 at 11:20 pm

    Thanks for praying, Melody!

    Reply
  10. Mary says

    January 15, 2015 at 2:15 am

    Beautiful story! Jaymin sounds like an amazing boy and the love and care he is receiving is amazing. I will be praying for this family and for improved health and wellness as a result of surgery.

    Reply
  11. KristinHillTaylor says

    January 15, 2015 at 4:25 pm

    Thanks for praying, Mary!

    Reply
  12. Tiffany says

    January 15, 2015 at 8:55 pm

    What an incredible little guy! So glad you shared his story with us, Kristin. Praying for him and his sweet mom, that God holds them close.

    Reply
  13. KristinHillTaylor says

    January 15, 2015 at 9:17 pm

    I'm glad you're here, Tiffany! Thanks for praying.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Let’s Connect

  • Bloglovin
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • RSS
  • Twitter

About Me

Telling stories is my therapy and I love sharing them with friends on my porch.

The main characters in my stories are my entrepreneur husband, our high school girl who never forgets, our middle school boy who has no fear, and our joy-filled first-grade girl. As we live out our stories, we seek God as the author of them all.

Learn more about my story here.

Subscribe for Updates

Recent Posts

  • How to enjoy motherhood
  • How & why to travel with kids
  • From snow to sand
  • Books of 2022
  • How to enjoy winter days at home

Join the Conversation

Join the Conversation

On Instagram

I sat on my porch beneath a blanket and finished t I sat on my porch beneath a blanket and finished this book today. Yes, I’m fully invested in this Cuba saga involving the Perez family. “The Last Train to Key West” by @chanelcleeton is the third in the series. I have the fourth on hold at the library for pickup on Monday. 

I wasn’t sure I was going to love this one as much as I did Cleeton’s first two, but it was a slow-building story that turned stormy. I loved how the three women were in Key West for their own reasons, developed meaningful relationships as they navigated their lives, and managed to survive the storms of their lives and an actual hurricane. 

The historical fiction story offers hope:

“It’s strange how your life can change so quickly, how one moment you can barely eke by, desperation filling your days, and suddenly, out of the unimaginably horrific, a glimmer of something beautiful can appear like a bud pushing through the hard-formed earth. There’s so much broken around us; maybe all we can do is try to fix each other, do what we can to preserve these precious moments in a world where there is so much sadness and loss. … Maybe some would say my dreams are too small. Perhaps they would dream of railroads that go over the sea, great, wonderful things. Maybe others want riches and jewels, a chance to travel the globe. For me, this is enough: A corner of paradise in this wretched world that I am able to call my own.” — Helen in “The Last Train to Key West” by Chanel Cleeton

#KHTreads #bookstagram #booklover #librarybooks #historicalfiction #weekending #favoritethings #choosingJOY #bookquotes #bookreview
This morning there are three “holes” in Wright This morning there are three “holes” in Wright Road after the creek flooded it overnight. The Calloway County road department responded quickly and is working to pack in various kinds of gravel so it will passable again soon. I’m thankful for their work, but these Band-Aids aren’t an actual solution. 

Wright Road needs a permanent solution for when Wildcat Creek rises. A bridge seems to be the best idea, so the creek can rise and flow beneath the road rather than flowing across it and washing out the gravel on top of the culverts. 

I know it’s an expensive fix and would take local government working with state government, but I wonder how many times the road has to break before it can be truly repaired.

#callowaycounty #kyweather #kentuckyweather #countyroads #countryliving #reallife #murrayky
In a week filled with all the parenting emotions, In a week filled with all the parenting emotions, God has provided conversation with friends who understand, new mercies, a few walks and talks with a friend, and cinnamon rolls on a rainy Friday afternoon. I’ve been reminded when we are vulnerable and share our real lives, friends bring truth and goodness — often in ways we don’t expect but bless us anyway. 

#bettertogether #createdforcommunion #reallife #momlife #weekending #parenthood #choosingJOY #favoritethings #livingfaithfully
People ask when I have time to write. The truth is People ask when I have time to write. The truth is I like to make time to write, but sometimes it happens in the cracks of my days — at Panera, in the Notes app on my phone, at the library before I pickup my kids, or while I’m waiting on kids at activities. This week I edited my manuscript while Rachel practiced soccer. 

#momlife #writerlife #selfpublished #bloggerlife #authorlife #soccermom #thirdchild #createdforcommunion #bettertogether #favoritethings
I needed this weekend. The UK Wildcats didn’t I needed this weekend. 

The UK Wildcats didn’t win this afternoon like I had hoped. But following our house full of people on Friday night, I’ve spent a lot of time on my couch, under a soft blanket, with a book, while I watch #MarchMadness. 

Yesterday I pulled “When We Left Cuba” by @chanelcleeton from my to-be-read stack and then realized it was the second in a series about the Perez family. Thanks to @libby.app, I was able to get “Next Year in Havana” immediately. 

I finished it today during commercials and timeouts. And now I’m going to start “When We Left Cuba” as another basketball game also gets going. 

#KHTreads #basketballseason #weekending #bookstagram #reallife #booklover #librarybooks #KindleOasis #Kindlebooks #favoritethings
What a fun night! Basketball is best with friends What a fun night! Basketball is best with friends and food. So thankful for all these provisions and others in my life. Oh and a Cats win is icing on the cake. 

#MarchMadness #weekending #basketballseason #bettertogether #choosingJOY #BigBlueNation
You know it’s #MarchMadness when Greg Taylor pos You know it’s #MarchMadness when Greg Taylor posts on Facebook — and a picture at that! — and puts his radio/TV degree to work figuring out how to improve the viewing setup. 

#reallife #basketballseason #wifelife #choosingJOY
I had no idea just how deeply I would be affected I had no idea just how deeply I would be affected while studying Genesis 1-2. Going back to the beginning and seeing how God created, ordered, and filled the earth has been exactly what I didn’t know I needed, especially as a mom. 

For quite a while now, I feel like I’ve been living a day at a time. I used to be able to see my life in larger chunks of time and anticipate and prepare accordingly. Now, I slap things on the calendar and then deal with them as they come. Navigating life with two teenagers and a first-grader is the best and hardest thing I’ve ever done.

Honestly, this moment-to-moment living has been good for me and helped me rely on the God who created the stars and rivers that still exist in our world. Focusing on where I am helps me take slower steps, trust God to provide, and remember I’m not in control. I’ve felt an internal shift with my relationships — with my husband, kids, and friends. I’ve felt behind on laundry and dishes and piles of papers. But I’ve also felt a refreshed nearness to God. 

I’m going to rest here while believing God created life and light when there was only darkness and continues to order my days. 

#livingfaithfully #choosingJOY #momlife #faithlife #preceptstudy #genesisstudy #genesis #beginnings #reallife #PorchStories
My friend @ashleelyoung told me about this memoir, My friend @ashleelyoung told me about this memoir, but I knew nothing about Sutton Foster or her story beforehand. She’s a TV actress and Broadway singer and dancer who processes her life — complicated family life, love, loss, spotlight, infertility, adoption, motherhood — by creating. She creates in the kitchen, on stages, with yarn, with paint, with her hands, and with her mind. But her story really is all the experiences and emotions that inspire her creative work. I enjoyed this one. 

#KHTreads #memoirs #bookstagram #booklover #audiobooks #audible #bookreview
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Favorites

Categories

Archives

Copyright © 2023 Kristin Hill Taylor | Design by Traci Michele | Development by MRM