The Herald-News - News Story

Every family encounters trying times, but the Marcus family is now reeling from a double blow to their lives that has left them in need of financial assistance.

Justin and Kristy Marcus's 9-month-old daughter Taylee was diagnosed earlier this month with pneumococcal meningitis after she came down with a severe ear infection.

Pneumococcal disease is a very serious illness among young children, infecting approximately 4,500 children younger than 5 every year, according to the Center for Disease and Control.
Meningitis is the most severe type of the disease, causing many children to have long-term hearing loss, brain damage or even death.

After the family visited Dr. Jim Nelson's pediatric office in Dayton, Nelson sent them to TC Thompson Children's Hospital in Chattanooga, where they stayed for more than two weeks.

Taylee was put on a 14-day intravenous antibiotic treatment in the hospital and was medically paralyzed in order to receive the medicine.

"It was really horrible, but she did really well," said Kristy. "She woke up out of it one day and started smiling at us."

The treatment turned out to be a success, and Taylee made a full recovery. She recently returned to her home in the Roddy community to rejoin her twin brother and 4-year-old sister.

"She cried when she got home she was so happy," Kristy said. "Some doctors said she was a miracle."

In the midst of Taylee's hospitalization though, strike two hit the family. Her father, Justin, was hit by a car running a red light in Chattanooga, an accident that sent him to Erlanger
Medical Center. Upon investigation, doctors discovered that the accident had deflated his lung by 50 percent.

"The doctor said it was comparable to having an arrow stuck in you," said Kristy. "He's hurting really bad."

The injury will keep him from his carpentry work for eight weeks, which, considering the family's already dire circumstances, will be a financial struggle.

In the wake of these rough waters for the Marcus family, though, some in the community have stepped up to lend a helping hand.

Lori Taylor, a waitress at the Dayton Coffee Shop, frequently serves Taylee's grandfather and heard of the family's struggles through him.

"They have no income whatsoever," said Taylor. "Kristy is stressed, figuring out what to do about the bills."

Taylor decided to set up an account at Regions Bank in Dayton under her name and opened it up for community-wide donations. She said she would most likely keep it open for another month.

"God just laid it on my heart to help these people," she said.

"I really appreciate everything that everyone is doing for us," said Kristy. "People have been really gracious. This is such a sweet little community - I just love it."

Call Taylor at 240-1615 for more information on how to help the family.

Michelle Friesen can be reached at michelle.friesen@rheaheraldnews.com.