Taylor Hale Allowed Home for Short Visit Saturday

Fourteen-year-old Taylor Hale, the Waukee girl recovering from a serious head injury, was able to visit her home for a few hours today, said the teen's CarePages website Saturday.

Hale, the teen who was  Sept. 9, continues to progress with therapy at Blank Children's Hospital in Des Moines.

An update on Hale's CarePages page, posted Saturday afternoon by her mother, Stacy Henningsen, said:

"Today Taylor got to go home for a few hours, first time in 29 days, on what they call a "home visit pass". It was so nice to have her home even for the short time.

"Taylor was advanced to rehab status yesterday and was givin the ok for a regular diet so we are ordering pizza for supper tonight : )

"We have a care conference scheduled for next Wednesday to talk about Taylor's progress. I was told this week that it would not be "unreasonable to expect her out of here in 2-3 weeks". YEAH!! Of course that doesn't mean a regular schedule but it would allow us to take her home and continue her rehab with visits to Blank daily and I'm sure more comfort for her being in her own bed and around family.

"Continue to pray for Taylor's speedy recovery, our prayers have definitely been heard and answered."

Fundraising continues

Family friend Laura Hess and others have been raising money to help the Hale family with expenses. She is taking orders for T-shirts and bracelets. T-shirts are $24 each, bracelets are $5. Orders can be sent to prayersfortaylor@gmail.com. Please include the item you’re ordering, quantity, size (for tees only), name, address and telephone number in your e-mail.

Hess has also placed donation canisters at 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, T-shirts 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.