Family and friends plan to line the streets of O’Fallon to on Wednesday to welcome home a local teen who’s spent months in the hospital. 

Samuel Taylor, the youngest of five children, was a happy 15-year-old attending St. Dominic High School, until December 2011.

That’s when he started complaining of constant headaches, his aunt Michele Roshell said.

The doctor discovered Samuel had a tumor near his brain stem and he was admitted to Cardinal Glennon for surgery on Dec. 17, 2011.

Roshell said after the surgery, Sam experienced issues with swelling and he slipped into a coma. Due to some complications with the surgery, Sam lost his hearing, and for awhile the family was afraid they’d lose him.

But Sam pulled through, spending four months at the hospital before moving to Ranken-Jordan for full-time care and therapy, Roshell said.

“It’s a miracle my sister got him to the hospital,” she added.

After seven-months away from home, Sam is looking forward to returning to O'Fallon and on Wednesday afternoon, his family and friends are excited to welcome him.

Roshell said people will line the streets off of Pinehurst Court and Mexico Road at 2:30 p.m., holding signs to welcome Sam and celebrate his homecoming.

“He won’t be able to hear us, but he’ll be able to see the signs,” Roshellsaid.

Sam’s parents, Lisa and Tim, have kept family and friends updated on his progress through the Caring Bridge website for the past seven months.

“He’s been our miracle,” Roshell said. “A lot of people have been so connected, looking at what’s going on.”

To learn more about Sam's journey, visit his Caring Bridge page online.

OFallon Patch will be at Sam's welcome home celebration on Wednesday. To see photos, check back with us later this week or sign up for our newsletter.