Some tough news today from South Carolina banjo man Todd Taylor, who is experiencing yet another health crisis. Todd has fought serious illnesses most of his life, and is determined to beat this one just as he has the others.
Recently back from Japan, he began feeling badly once he got home, experiencing heart palpitations and fatigue along with profound pain.
Since he was a child, Todd has suffered from asthma and a potentially debilitating muscle malady akin to Muscular Dystrophy. Flare ups can occur unexpectedly in both cases, and some have required hospitalization in acute cases.
Even a bout with colon cancer last year was defeated with therapy.
So he has always soldiered on, continuing to perform in his unique rock ‘n’ roll banjo style.
Finally, after several weeks of testing by his doctors, they have reached a diagnosis of Hashimoto’s Disease, a typically manageable autoimmune disorder which, when left untreated, can cause some very serious issues, including heart problems, and in severe cases, coma leading to death.
Todd’s doctors believe that he has had this chronic illness all his life, and it has been left completely untreated for his full 60 years. The disease essentially causes the body to attack the thyroid gland, leading in the worst cases, to severe hypothyroidism. Perhaps both because of his weakened state, and the fact that it has never been treated, this flare up is beyond severe, and getting worse.
Most unkindly, Taylor has proved allergic to all the common medications given to treat Hashimoto’s. His doctors now plan to test some custom-compounded drugs to try to identify which elements are causing the negative response. He thinks this will require hospitalization again, in case one of the adverse reactions involves heart issues.
Todd asks only that people pray for him, and that they not call to check in on him for a while. He is in bed most of the time, and has very little energy for anything, even speaking on the phone.
He has promised to keep us in the loop and we hope to report some good news from him soon.
Get well soon, Todd!
