Elizabeth and Elijah Taylor - Mayo Clinic

Elizabeth and Elijah Taylor at Mayo Clinic

Many of Elizabeth and Elijah’s friends want some way to help and a way to let the Taylor family know how deeply they are cared for while they navigate this challenging time. So we have set up this GoFundMe that will help with the expenses they incur while up at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota for a couple of months.

Elijah’s full story can be read here on his CaringBridge site: https://www.caringbridge.org/site/30d93698-c082-397d-8ab1-7d23c37015d9

Elizabeth posts regularly so friends and family near and far can keep up to date and know what their specific prayer requests are at that time.

The Cliff Notes version of Elijah’s story:

Almost 18 years ago Elijah was diagnosed with cancer. As a result of the impacts of that diagnosis, he was referred to Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN and required a liver transplant. He was eligible for a living donor transplant, and his mother Connie donated a portion of her liver to him. (If you didn’t know…the liver is the only organ that can regenerate!) Both he and his mom recovered beautifully from the transplant and have been living full and healthy lives ever since!

However, unexpectedly last month on July 4th he began experiencing pain in his side and was taken to the emergency room where he was diagnosed with a blood clot in the artery to his liver. After unsuccessful treatment attempts at Louisville and Lexington, it was determined the place he needed to be was again Mayo Clinic. So on Wednesday July 10th, Mayo sent their critical care jet to pick them up in Lexington and take them to Rochester, MN.

Many more tests and many more scary moments later, it was determined that the liver was irreparably damaged and a second transplant was needed. Given the circumstances this time, it necessitated a cadaver donor rather than a living donor, and on Friday July 26th, he was able to receive that liver transplant.

There have been steps forward and steps backward since then - hopeful progress and scary setbacks, both. But day by day he is slowly improving. The doctors warned them that this recovery would be more difficult than the first, and that is definitely proving true.

They will likely have to remain at Mayo through September for continued treatment, rehab and monitoring, so that is what this GoFundMe will help with – living expenses and travel expenses so their kids and family can visit.

If you know Elizabeth and Elijah, you know they are vehemently grounded in their faith. They love each other fiercely, and they love their friends and family with all their heart. I have no doubt that is why so many people have wanted to do something to help them as they navigate this difficult time. So if you feel, like we did, at a loss as to how to help them from afar – please feel free to donate to this GoFundMe that will 100% go directly to them.

Thank you,

The Robey and Searcy families.