Taylor's Gift: A Courageous Story Of Giving Life And Renewing Hope (2013) - Plot & Excerpts
I saw this book on the shelf at Deseret Book but didn't get a chance to pick it up to see what it was about. Then I later saw it at the library and after walking past, had a strong impression that I needed to go back and check it out even though I still had no idea what it was about other than it was nonfiction. I am so glad I did! This is why I read. Taylor is a 13-year-old girl that died in a tragic skiing accident. This book is written by her parents and tells the story of their grief but also of their hope, as Taylor was able to save lives through organ donation. The first half of the book has light references to God and soul-searching/faith-finding, and the second half is packed with God's tender mercies--just sign after sign of God's love. As a fellow Christian, I loved reading about their "of course!" moments, as they called them, where they could see heaven reaching down to them. Todd awakened to doing God's will and blessings flowed. Tara also found comfort in Christ. Much of the book details the drudgery of coping with life after the accident, but it also tells the stories of the recipients of Taylor's organs and how they were given a second chance at life. It is really neat to put those stories together for a more complete picture of God's plan for Taylor.I was really struck by the raw honesty about the thoughts and feelings Todd (Taylor's dad) describes when he first learned that Taylor was brain dead. It was really, really tough to go inside the mind of Taylor's mom Tara and just be lost in her misery with her. Tara's grief seemed deeper and darker and longer than Todd's, but he was also struggling, just dealing with it differently. Their differences in grieving was interesting to ponder, and their ability to work through it (with a marriage counselor and faith in God) was moving. I cried when Tara described attending her daughter's wake, and I ached for her to find herself again, knowing things would never be the same for her.I was rather impressed, if not a bit jealous, by the amazing network of support they had through friends, family, and community. What an astonishing outpouring of strength! I hope I can give that kind of support to my neighbors in their suffering. I found this book heartbreaking and powerfully motivating. I made sure to look up that I am a registered organ donor and talked with my husband about organ donation. I looked up the Taylor's Gift Foundation and am looking into participating in a local 5K to support organ donation. If you have ever contemplated organ donation and cannot make a concise decision, READ THIS BOOK. This is a heart touching account of a life gone too soon, but yet went on to live in others for many more years. I firmly believe in organ donation. I once had a bumper sticker on my car that said "When you go to heaven don't take your organs with you. We need them here". When you read this book, you will be witness to what it is like to be the person in need of an organ in order to continue living. You will witness what the families go through when watching their loved ones dying because they need a new heart, a new kidney, a new liver, a new whatever to live. What if it was you or your loved one in need. Wouldn't you want someone to give you the greatest gift possible. I believe you would. So, just put yourself in their shoes and think how you would feel.
What do You think about Taylor's Gift: A Courageous Story Of Giving Life And Renewing Hope (2013)?
really good book! I cried most of the book. I think eveyone should read this book.
—jamielee
If you have ever lost a loved one, you should read this book!
—Nitnit
