“A second chance of life”

Joshua Taylor was only 27 when he came down with a case of strep throat that would change his life. It led to a diagnosis of viral cardiomyopathy — a disease of the heart muscle. Joshua’s journey included a pacemaker to control his heartbeat and a cardiac arrest followed by weeks in a medically induced coma. He went through several of the most advanced and invasive heart procedures, including ECMO and an LVAD, before finally undergoing a heart and kidney transplant.

After over a decade of trying all other measures, Joshua underwent the 12-hour double transplant surgery that finally provided him with a healthy heart, a healthy kidney, and a second chance at life. “A lot of times, you have to go through something to realize it’s no joke,” Joshua said. “When I first got sick, I was in denial, thinking I didn’t have heart problems. This was a huge wake-up call, and I don’t take life for granted at all.”

For the first time in years, Joshua is looking to the future. His catering business, Big Daddy’s BBQ, is taking off in Owensboro, and his signature sauce is flying off grocery store shelves. When he’s not behind the grill preparing for barbecue competitions, he’s keeping up with his workouts, taking care of his new heart and kidney. He’s also enjoying the time with his family. He and his wife, Jill, recently took the vacation of their dreams to the Dominican Republic, something that would have been impossible just a few years ago.

And Joshua knows it’s all due to the selfless gift of a donor whom he will never meet. Joshua has written his letter to the donor’s family, sharing the impact their loved one made in his life: allowing him to live.

“I have tried many times and could not come up with the words to say, how appreciative I am for your loved one to give me a second chance of Life.”