More Good News: Family of Taylor Hale Says Teen Talking, Breathing on Her Own

Taylor Hale, the 14-year-old Waukee girl in intensive car following a head injury, is talking and breathing on her own, family members said Tuesday.

An update posted on the family's Caring Page website Tuesday said: Ventilator Gone = check
Breathing on own = check
How do we know Taylor knows who she is? Because she told us
today!

Taylor has been in intensive care at Blank Children's Hospital since falling off a car 11 days ago. The family's website said Taylor first opened her eyes on Sunday, then opened her eyes and moved her arms and legs Monday.

The family said Taylor cannot have visitors; they will update the website when that changes.

Hale, a freshman cheerleader and volleyball player at , was severely injured Sept. 9 while visiting friends after a Waukee High School football game.

According to incident and eyewitness reports, Hale was thrown from the hood of a moving car, landed on the street and hit her head on the concrete, causing injuries severe enough to land her in the intensive care unit.

But Tuesday's update was good news for family and friends.

"Apparently, miracles do happen," said family friend Laura Hess, who has taken the lead to raise money for the family's expenses. "All I can do is smile and cry every time I hear good news."

Fundraiser planned for Friday

On Friday, from 3 to 10 p.m., Hess and other volunteers will sell bracelets for $5 each at a tent outside the entrance to Waukee Stadium.

A total of 400 bracelets are up for sale, some say "Pray for Taylor" and others say "Hope for Hale."

All proceeds — estimated at $2,000 — will benefit the Hale family.

Hess said that Northwest Bank President Don Nickerson paid for the cost of making the bracelets.

Supporters can also drop off aluminum cans in a box at the tent. Teens have been going door to door to collect cans to help the fund drive, which raised about $1,000 in five days, Hess said.

To donate

Hess has also placed donation canisters at a growing number of area Kum & Go gas stations: at the University Avenue store across from Waukee High School at the store on Fourth Street in Waukee, at 156th Street and Hickman Road in Clive, at Jordan Creek Parkway and Vista Drive in West Des Moines, and on Jordan Creek Parkway across from the entrance to Jordan Creek Town Center.

Casey's General Stores in the area also have donation canisters. They can be found in these stores: Hickman and Warrior Lane in Waukee, Boone Drive and University Avenue in Waukee, and 2250 Woodlands Parkway in Clive.

In addition to the canisters and bracelets, accounts have been set up at Northwest Bank in West Des Moines and all Wells Fargo and Liberty Bank locations to help the family with medical expenses.

At Northwest Bank, send checks payable to Prayers for Taylor, 5700 University Ave., #100, West Des Moines, IA 50266.

To donate at any Liberty Bank, mention the Taylor Hale fund, and at Wells Fargo, reference account number 7735584307 to donate.