Marshall says, "I'll stop the puck. You can stop the pain and help keep kids like me in the game. Become an organ donor!"
Marshall Taylor of Raleigh, NC needs a kidney transplant because of bi-lateral kidney disease. Thousands of children and adults need kidney transplants or dialysis in order to live and have productive lives. Marshall was born with his disease but was only diagnosed in August 2005. His kidneys will eventually fail completely and he will soon need a transplant. He is now having daily injections of a growth hormone and a weekly injection for his severe anemia.
Many children like Marshall have had their normal growth interrupted because of kidney problems. Some, like Marshall, are also battling anemia and other medical issues. As he gets closer to a transplant date, he will have to take many other medications daily. After his transplant he will have to take immunosuppressant medications for the rest of his life. Marshall was originally evaluated and deemed a candidate for transplantation at the UNC Medical Center in Chapel Hill, NC. His care has recently been transferred to the University of Michigan Health Care System in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Karen Tyner, his aunt from South Carolina, has offered one of her kidneys to Marshall and she has undergone many tests to insure a proper match.
Many patients are still waiting for donors to volunteer a kidney. If you are inclined to be a donor, we encourage you to contact one of the organizations on our links page. Since he was diagnosed with bi-lateral kidney disease in August, Marshall has had to undergo many hours of frightening and lengthy medical tests. Many children and adult donors live many miles away from proper medical help.
Throughout all of this Marshall has been brave and hopeful that things will be better when he gets his new kidney. Marshall says he wants be to a TV sports announcer and commentator when he grows up. For now he says he just wants to be a normal kid, to be able to play sports (ice hockey) with his friends and classmates, and to read his favorite books. All transplant patients and their donors need your help and your prayers! Ask your worship leaders and your faith communities to raise money for those in your area and to pray for all patients, donors, and medical staffs. May God bless you and all those in whose love you live,
Phil, Susan, & Marshall Taylor
The song you hear on this site was written and sung by Greg Nicholson of Songs of Love and is used by permission from Songs of Love. Go to their website to see how Songs of Love is helping brighten the lives of many ill children and their famalies.
"Don't take your organs to heaven; heaven knows we need them here!"
This site was made possible by a very generous donation. The anonymous donor said, "I want this site to help Marshall and as many other transplant patients as possible." We are honored and humbled as recipients of this gift and we will make every effort to insure that many others in the transplant community are helped through this site. If you have suggestions about how this site can best benefit the whole community, please go to the REQUEST INFO page and send us your comments.
