Joshua Taylor
Joshua became ill in the summer with severe stomach problems including cramping and inability to digest food. As the illness progressed Joshua began to lose weight and to suffer severe pain. He continued to fight through the illness and pain to excel at his Advanced Placement Classes at Mayport Middle School. The illness progress to the point that Joshua had lost over 20 Ibs and was malnourished by that fall.
When the family physician referred Joshua to Wolfson Children’s Hospital, his parents were very excited. Their son Ryan had been successfully treated for a rare illness by the staff earlier that year. Dr. Taufiq had not only seen Joshua on the day he was referred, he added an appointment at the end of his already long day.
Dr. Taufiq and the staff began to immediately investigate Joshua’s condition, attempting to relieve his pain and help him to stabilize his weight loss. Before Christmas, Dr. Taufiq conducted procedures that determined that Joshua suffered from Crohn’s disease. Using the state of the art facilities and the experience of the Gastro Intestinal Clinic they were able begin treating Joshua just days before malnourishment would have hospitalized him. The continued treatment by Wolfson Children’s Hospital has allowed Joshua to return to his original weight, he is almost pain free. Wolfson Children’s Hospital is an amazing blessing to the Taylor family, especially when you realize that Joshua’s infusion treatments occur on the same floor at WCH where the staff cared for their son Ryan. They can never thank the Wolfson Children’s Hospital staff enough for the wonderful care that has allowed Joshua to return to a normal life.
