Taylor's Gift

A Courageous Story of Giving Life and Renewing Hope

by: Todd Storch, Tara Storch, Jennifer Schuchmann

• Format

  E-Book

  ISBN

  9781441241016

  Pub. Date

  Apr 2013

  SRP

  $20.00

  Buy

About

“May this story bring hope to anyone who has suffered tragedy. There is life after loss. It comes after a monsoon of tears. But it comes.”—from the foreword by Max Lucado

“As a journalist, I believe in the transformative power of storytelling. Taylor’s Gift is an exquisite example of the power to move people . . . the power to heal . . . the power to inspire through a breathtaking story.”—Juju Chang, correspondent, ABC News Nightline

“Tara and Todd Storch share their story so openly that you will be inspired no matter what circumstances are in your life. I love how Taylor’s Gift shows the blessings that can come if you have hope and follow your purpose.”—Roger Staubach, former quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys and executive chairman, Jones Lang LaSalle Americas

“The Storches are a truly amazing and inspiring family! They show beautifully how faith and hope can bring you through the toughest of times. Taylor’s Gift clearly shows that there can be a purpose in the pain.”—Carly Patterson, Olympic gold medalist

“Beautifully told, Todd and Tara Storch’s tribute to Taylor is memorable partly due to their . . . choices that gave life, hope, and health in the face of unthinkable personal sorrow and suffering.”—CBA Retailers+Resources

“[A] testament to the resilience of people, and the comfort of faith, family, and friends.”—Booklist

“Brave and honest.”—Publishers Weekly It was the last run of their first day on the slopes, the beginning of another great family vacation for Todd and Tara Storch and their three children. But when thirteen-year-old Taylor’s life was tragically cut short in a skiing accident, the Storches were overcome by the devastating loss of their daughter. Still in shock, they were asked a question no parents ever think they will hear: “Would you be willing to donate Taylor’s organs?”

Their answer would change their family’s lives forever and provide comfort during their darkest moments. It would also save the lives of five desperate people anxiously waiting for a heart, a liver, a cornea, a pancreas, and a kidney.

Taylor’s death could have destroyed the Storches—and in some ways it almost did. Instead, her gift of life brought them strength, knowing her heart was continuing to beat. Taylor’s Gift is more than Taylor’s story, or even Todd and Tara’s story. It’s the story of a nurse who can now be an active mom and fully present for her kids, a cowboy who now has the strength and ability to give back to the community, a biker who can now give of himself completely, and a teenager who can now see her future for the first time.

It’s a story of finding strength in God and creating good even in the darkest times.

It’s a story of hope. Todd Storch is a successful consultant, public speaker, and community leader. After the death of his daughter, he began to pursue his new God-given mission to promote organ donation. Todd is cofounder and president of Taylor’s Gift Foundation, where he and his wife, Tara, work tirelessly to help those who have been touched by organ donation. Todd is honored to lead the foundation that has helped contribute to the registration of millions of new organ donors and is still changing the conversation about organ donation.

Tara Storch is first and foremost a mom, but she is also a sales and marketing professional, is active in her church, and is a community leader. Along with her husband, Todd, she cofounded Taylor’s Gift Foundation. She leads the marketing efforts of the foundation with the mission to “increase organ donation to Regift Life, Renew Health, and Restore Families.” She loves helping others recognize the beautiful gift we all have within.

Todd and Tara have shared their story on Good Morning America, The Today Show, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, and other national media. They are the parents of Taylor, Ryan, and Peyton, and have made their home in Texas.

Jennifer Schuchmann specializes in collaborations with celebrities and newsmakers. Among her many books, she is coauthor with Kurt and Brenda Warner of the New York Times bestselling First Things First; with Dan Woolley of Unshaken, the only book written by a survivor of the Haiti earthquake; and with Jim Cymbala of Spirit Rising.

Learn more at www.TaylorsGift.org.

Outlive yourself.

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Endorsements

As a journalist, I believe in the transformative power of storytelling. Taylor's Gift is an exquisite example of the power to move people . . . the power to heal . . . the power to inspire through a breathtaking story."

Juju Chang, correspondent, ABC News Nightline

"This is a book about love on so many levels. How grieving parents turned their anguish into joy by seeing their daughter live through others."

Cynthia Izaguirre, WFAA-TV news anchor

"Todd and Tara Storch are a true inspiration. Their story is amazing and touching. This book promotes faith, family, and the gift of life. Taylor was a special person and her spirit will live on forever. This book has been a gift that has changed my life. It will change yours too."

Jarrett Payton, ESPN analyst, radio personality

"Tara and Todd's courage and strength in the face of tragedy are an inspiration to us all. The entire Storch family's dedication to Taylor's memory and Taylor's gift makes them my heroes."

Ann Lopez, kidney donor

"In Taylor's Gift, the Storches are an example of an ordinary family that experienced an extraordinary and tragic event. The Storch family transitioned from grieving to becoming a shining example of giving the ultimate gift of life all over the world."

Everson Walls, NFL all-pro, kidney donor

"In Taylor's Gift, Todd and Tara Storch take us inside the agony of losing a child. But more than that, they take us inside the unexpected joy that comes in seeing God use the worst thing we can imagine for good, helping us to believe he will do that in our lives too."

Nancy Guthrie, author, Holding on to Hope and Hearing Jesus Speak Into Your Sorrow

"Tara and Todd Storch share their story so openly that you will be inspired no matter what circumstances are in your life. I love how Taylor's Gift shows how organ donation can be a beautiful gift and also shows the blessings that can come if you have hope and follow your purpose. I would highly recommend this book!"

Roger Staubach, former quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys, executive chairman, Jones Lang LaSalle Americas

"The Storches are a truly amazing and inspiring family! They show beautifully how faith and hope can bring you through the toughest of times. Taylor's Gift clearly shows that there can be a purpose in the pain. I love what Taylor's Gift is all about and I would highly recommend this book."

Carly Patterson, Olympic gold medalist

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Reviews

"Readers will appreciate the poignant stories of how Taylor's organs changed the lives of many people after her tragic death and how this generous act came back to bring hope and encouragement to the Storch family in the months that followed. Beautifully told, Todd and Tara Storch's tribute to Taylor is memorable partly due to their self-sacrificial parental choices that gave life, hope, and health, in the face of unthinkable personal sorrow and suffering."

CBA Retailers+Resources

"Taylor's Gift portrays the hope that comes with blazing new trails in an age of modern miracles."

Booklist