In the fall of 2016, we received a message from Tessa's mother Jan explaining the extraordinary circumstances that brought this family together.
"By the time [Tessa] was only 3 weeks old she had been the victim of severe child abuse – multiple skull fractures, multiple rib fractures in various stages of healing," Jan wrote to us.
Jan explained that Tessa's biological parents stalled getting her the medical attention required in an attempt to let Tessa's bruising soften and let the abuse become less obvious.
“Tessa was almost dead by the time they took her in.”
"[Since her injuries, Tessa] has had 3 brain surgeries. She was expected to be blind from damage to the optic nerve and at high risk of dying by the time she had her first birthday due to infantile spasms," Jan wrote.
Tessa's issues that stemmed from the extreme brain trauma she sustained is excruciating to read, let alone survive. Jan says Tessa's "problem list" includes just some of the following: hydrocephalus, seizures, optic atrophy in both eyes, right homonymous hemianopsia, cortical visual impairment, encephalomalacia, myopia, astigmatism of both eyes, auditory perceptual disorder, global developmental delay, spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy and epilepsy.
However, as devastating as it is to read about what occurred to sweet Tessa as an infant, it is that much more inspiring to hear what happened with her shortly thereafter.
With Jan's three kids – Rachel, David, & Alyssa – fully grown, Jan turned her attention back to special needs children. Jan is quite an amazing woman, as she's previously adopted both David and Rachel after respectively taking them both home from the hospital as drug-exposed infants. Jan was called upon once again to take in another fragile infant at five months old and amazingly only 16 months later Jan had officially adopted her third child (four kids total) – Tessa. Jan says, "[Tessa} has become a delightful blessing to our family."
Jan has been a single parent for her entire "parenting career." Jan raised her older three children on a small farm in California but the farm wasn't the greatest place for a child like Tessa who suffers from cerebral palsy, so she sold the farm to give Tessa a better chance at recovery. "We have just recently moved to a home which will better accommodate Tessa's current and future needs," Jan told us.
However, their new home isn't as easily accessible for off-site therapy so it's important to bring the therapy to the Taylor home. With that in mind, Holton's Heroes worked in tandem with Tessa's mom and Robert Walker of Bear Valley Builders to create a custom-made therapy track and harness system right inside Tessa's home. The end result proved to be one of the most ambitious builds Holton's Heroes has taken on to date as there was no blue print to follow.
We were grateful to work with Robert and Melanie Walker of Bear Valley Builders & Garage Doors, who graciously took on this project after others turned us down. If you live in the Big Bear, CA area, we highly recommend their services if you have any contracting needs.
Check out the photos of the build and Tessa taking her first steps in the harness below.
“While [Tessa] watched other children running and playing tag, she said to me “I want to run.” This broke my heart, but also reinforces ... that I will do everything I possibly can to ensure she has every opportunity to someday run.”
Tessa proudly takes her first few steps in the new harness provided by Holton's Heroes. We are so proud of her and her mother Jan for being so tenacious throughout Tessa's recovery from brain injury. #BeIncredible
Are you kidding me??! Don't you just want to eat her up? No need to thank us Tessa, as we are the ones that owe you thanks for inspiring us all to keep moving forward one step at a time. We love you!
