A Pinal County Sheriff's deputy is facing a major battle. His one-year-old daughter has a perplexing medical condition, and the bills continue to add up.
But his community and a Queen Creek car dealership are not letting them take it all on alone.
“I’m just blown away, I can’t even put into words how amazing it is,” said Deputy Matthew Taylor.
For Deputy Taylor and his wife Tiffany, it’s been a journey full of love and support from an unexpected place.
On Friday, community members gathered at Earnhardt Rodeo in Queen Creek for Taylor's daughter named Skylar.
“The doctors are afraid of her brain development, they’re afraid for brain damage and how it could impact her future,” said Tiffany Taylor.
With her big blue eyes and contagious smile, it’s hard to see what's wrong as the baby crawls across the ground.
Sadly doctors are still trying to figure it out too.
They say Taylor's daughter isn’t growing right and suspect a tumor on her pituitary gland.
“Everything kind of snowballed when she was admitted to the children’s hospital and spent about a week there,” said Deputy Taylor.
Doctor visits have been constant; the bills could top $200,000, only part of which is covered by insurance.
Dutch Brothers in Casa Grande was the first to come calling by donating a dollar for every coffee purchased on July fourth. The community responded in droves.
“We went up there about three o’clock, and the lines were out on the road,” said Deputy Taylor. “Everyone was coming up to us and telling me thank you for your service.”
Unfortunately, in the midst of all of this, the families long time vehicle broke down.
The issue forced Tiffany to move back to Chicago to be near family and have access to a vehicle for medical appointments.
This time it was Earnhardt Rodeo that stepped up.
“When we found out what was going on with the family going on with the child, we knew we needed to step in, we really did, the Earnhardt family knew they needed to step in,” said General Manager Heath Wacker.
With Tex Earnhardt himself in attendance, the Taylors were gifted a 2015 Chevy Cruise free of charge.
“We’re tough, we’re willing to go through those things on our own, but when it affects our kids, what do you do, you feel so helpless,” said Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb.
But on this day and through this difficult situation, the community reminded this family they’re never alone.
Skylar still has a long way to go with a test coming up that will cost $13,000 alone and is not covered under the families insurance.
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