Eye-catching orange and white racing silks with ribbons and her initials are more than just a fashion statement for 18-year-old Taylor Logan.
Typically, Elliott Logan riders wear blue and white Kentucky stables silks, colors accompanied by a cursive L, horseshoe and TEC Racing emblazoned on the front.
In November, including their start dates at HoneysuckleThat look is dramatically different.
Kazushi Kimura wears orange silk jersey by TEC Racing to spread awareness about complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS)
“I really like them,” Taylor says of the silks she designed with her father. “I used to think it would be great to do something like that, but we never really started doing it. Then one day I sat down with my dad and we thought, ‘Let’s do this. Let’s do this. We might like it, we might not, but let’s try.’ In the end we both really enjoyed it.”
A sentiment echoed by her father.
“Taylor contributed a lot of input to the design. We are very pleased with the way they created it.”
The story behind the silk, featuring an orange ribbon and the letters TAL, first came to light more than two years ago in the aftermath of a serious medical diagnosis for a teenager.
Nearly three years ago, Taylor was diagnosed with complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), a term that describes excessive and persistent pain and inflammation that causes trauma to an arm or leg.
“On average a day, my pain level is about 7 out of 10. And it’s a good day. A good day is when I can wear whatever I want—I’m very sensitive to it—but there are certain days when I can’t wear a pair of shoes, a pair of socks, or a pair of pants Good days are when I can wear whatever I want and go out with my friends, and I can go to school Bad days are 10 out of 10 pain I won’t be able to lie in bed, I won’t be able to stand anything touching me, spend most of the time in tears trying to find come up with something that gives me some relief. Some things can help a little, but on the worst days, there’s nothing we can do but let it happen.”
She can easily recall days and moments that will change her life in ways she never imagined.
Originally thought to be an ankle sprain, but less than two weeks later, it had become a lot more serious.
“Back in March 2020, March 2, I was a gymnast, and I ended up injuring myself one day. Less than 72 hours later, I had crazy symptoms. This madness has nothing to do with an ankle sprain. On March 13, I was diagnosed with CRPS. We’d never heard of it before and didn’t know who had it. So that was around the time. We have a label, but we don’t know what that label means. We don’t know what it will look like in the future.”
People with CRPS, which has both acute and chronic forms, face a combined change of spontaneous pain or much higher-than-normal pain after something as mild as touching. . Other symptoms include changes in skin color, temperature, and/or swelling in the arm or leg below the injury site.
Most CRPS diseases are caused by improper function of the peripheral C-fiber nerve fibers that carry pain messages to the brain. The overshoot also causes inflammation designed to promote healing and rest after injury.
Although CRPS improves over time, it eventually goes away in most rare cases that are severe or persistent.
“Luckily, I’m fortunate to have a physical therapist who knows a lot about it. We don’t have to teach someone what it is and then get treated for it.
“There’s a lot of us studying, physical therapists studying, and our doctors studying too. I was lucky enough to get an early diagnosis. Some people go through it for months or even years. even years without a problem, it seems to me that I have a long road ahead of me to get back to where I used to be.
“Some people don’t have pain, others don’t. That’s special because every case is different, very few people have it and there are very few articles published, and the vast majority are not. from someone who has it.”
That’s what prompted the high school student to share her own story, something not easy to do.
Initially reluctant to speak publicly about her battle with CRPS, knowing it might help others prompted Taylor to open up about her struggles.
“I think being able to do this, building the courage to share my story and knowing that it can help others is what helps me. At the same time, there is hope that there will be a cure. treatment or something that can make a big difference.”
Her support group is broad and diverse, going beyond the people she’s closest to with those she’s met in her CRPS journey.
Over time, Taylor has embraced the group’s effortless approach to dealing with her grief.
“From the beginning, my parents were there and supported me. My whole family, cousins, grandparents, etc. were also there for me. I have met a lot of friends because of this, just through illnesses. different hospitals and treatments , who are going through the same thing as me, this is very helpful. It made me understand that I am not the only one. Although I have great support but I am is someone who is going through that and there are times when you feel very lonely.”
That’s when she thought about the horses.
Usually, on difficult days, or even when she wants to make the day better, Taylor and her father will go to their stables, an opportunity to simply be in the moment. , unconstrained by the burdens caused by CRPS.
“I thought it was a good escape, to be able to go out and see the horses. It was a good distraction. In the middle of this, I got my racing license and my father and I started a racing stable, T&E Racing We’re in the process of raising kids right now, so excited at the thought of one day seeing them run. nice getaway and a fun thing to do with my dad.”
She is looking forward to a day, a good day, no doubt, when she can stand by the side of the road and see orange and white silks, ones with ribbons with initials hers on it.
Kazushi Kimura wears TEC Racing’s special silk aboard the Graceful Fighter at Woodbine
On November 9 at Woodbine, Kazushi Kimura, the top racer of the Toronto oval team, wore them aboard the Graceful Fighter, a 2-year-old flying bird named Elliott named after his daughter. his.
Elliott, whose top horses so far include Shekky Shebaz , placed third in the Breeders’ Cup Sprints ‘2019 (G1T), Millennium Force, Sandy Bay, Souper Watson and Wentru. “That’s how she fights her battles. It’s also CRPS awareness month, so it’s great to have this horse running in November.”
Oddly enough, only a few people other than Taylor and her family knew the meaning behind the silks on that Woodbine afternoon card.
Taylor hopes that perhaps there will be more opinions after reading her story.
“I’ve seen the silks on video, but not in person at the races. Hopefully we’ll be able to join a race soon and see them first-hand. That means a lot. for me, I know it’s bigger than most people would think when I see them in the paddock, or on the track.I actually did some high-level shots of myself in silk. .”
Taylor Logan wears TEC Racing orange silk in her senior class photo
A photo that her father proudly shares on Twitter.
“If you talk to her, if you see her walking by, you never know what’s bothering her,” suggested Elliott. “She always has a beautiful smile on her face. She is a happy girl, even with what she has been going through. She is smiling, she is smiling. Lately, there have been when things were really bad for her, and that put her in a wheelchair for months. During that time, she never once complained. She always had a smile on her face.”
A look that Taylor intends to keep throughout her battles with CRPS and beyond.
“I hope one day I can be pain-free. It’s not an easy road ahead but knowing that many good days will come makes me smile.”
This press release has been edited by BloodHorse Staff for content and style.
