On any given day, you can hear Tayt humming his favorite mantra, “Just keep swimming, just keep swimming...” from the Disney movie Finding Nemo. This chant highlights his optimism, his perseverance and, above all, his hope.
Tayt knows more about perseverance and hope than most 14-year-old kids. Born prematurely with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome, Hydrocephalus and Spastic Paraplegia, Tayt was in serious trouble. Essentially, Tayt entered the world with only half a heart.
After waiting years to be healthy enough to receive a transplant and making his way to the top of the waitlist, Tayt suffered a heart attack – a wrenching setback, but he just kept swimming.
On June 24, 2016, Tayt finally received his new heart at Primary Children’s Hospital. To date, he has spent more than three-fourths of his life at the Hospital.
You have been there for Tayt every step of the way with your generous contributions. Your gifts make miracles happen and keep hope alive.
Receiving a heart transplant was only the first step of Tayt’s healing journey. Now he faces an uphill battle with Post-Transplant Lymphoproliferative Disorders (PTLD) and chemotherapy. He is closely monitored for tumor growth in and around his heart which could result in his body rejecting the new organ.
You can be Tayt’s heart hero as his healing journey continues.
Donate today and help Tayt and other patients to stay hopeful and keep swimming.
Tune In & Give
You may remember Tayt from Idaho Radiothon stories in the past. He was also featured on The Ellen Show, as Ellen’s one and only boyfriend. Join Tayt once again in raising money to support patients like him at Primary Children’s Hospital.
Donors like you can help to make hearts whole.
Tune in on September 29 and 30 to hear an update from Tayt and Primary Children’s other brave patients and families in Idaho.
Tune in or stream live KID News Radio 590 AM 92.1 & 106.3, 96.1 & 102.1 The Wolf, Star 98 and Classic Rock 94.9 & 104.5 on Sept. 29 and 30.
Give online securely at www.primarychildrens.org/Idaho-Radiothon.
Click here to read more of the September issue of Idaho Falls Magazine.