Taylor's Gift

Taylor's Gift:
A Courageous Story of Giving Life and Renewing Hope
Todd and Tara Storch
with Jennifer Schuchmann
(Revell)
ISBN: 978-0800721886
March 2013/336 pages/Hardcover/$21.99
In March 2010, thirteen-year-old Taylor Storch's life was tragically cut short by a skiing accident. With only a few minutes to consider their options, her grieving family made the life-changing decision to donate her organs. Knowing Taylor's caring spirit, they were sure this was what she would have wanted. Over the course of the next two years, Tara and Todd Storch connected with four of the five people who now live because of Taylor's gift. And through these encounters, the Storches have discovered unexpected blessings that are changing countless lives.

Now Tara and Todd share their inspiring story, shining a light at the end of the tunnel for those enduring the suffering of losing a loved one. Through the stories of the donor recipients, readers will discover hope in the midst of pain. Honest with their struggles, the Storches show readers that life is a gift and our response to grief is a choice. They also speak with a clear voice about the importance and the blessing of being an organ donor, telling the inspiring story of the creation of Taylor's Gift Foundation and its goals to raise awareness of the need for organ donation, to re-gift life, renew health, and restore families. They are changing the conversation around the globe that organ donation is not about death--it's about life!

“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

Read an excerpt here.



ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Photo: © Frank Marott, Pixels–Coppell, TX

After the death of his daughter, Todd Storch left a successful career in media consulting to pursue his God-given passion to promote organ donation. As co-founder of Taylor's Gift Foundation, Todd manages the day-to-day operations. In less than two years, Todd has spoken to nearly 10,000 people. Through the foundation's efforts, he has contributed to the certification of nearly 2,000,000 organ donors in Texas and over 12,000,000 nationally. Todd has more than twenty years of experience as a senior executive in radio and digital media sales, and extensive experience helping companies build their digital and interactive divisions.

Tara Storch is an award-winning sales and marketing professional, an entrepreneur, and a community leader, but most importantly she is a wife to Todd and a mom to Ryan and Peyton. Along with her husband, Todd, she cofounded Taylor's Gift Foundation to increase organ donation to "regift life, renew health, and restore families." She and her husband have shared their story on Good Morning America, The Today Show, and The Ellen DeGeneres Show, and other national media.

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. An accomplished writer, trainer, and speaker noted for creative and practical approaches to business and spiritual topics, Jennifer has an extensive public speaking background. She holds an M.B.A. from Emory University with an emphasis in marketing and communications and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Memphis.

MY THOUGHTS

This is a heart-wrenching book that is hard as a parent to read. Only by knowing that God's grace has brought (and is continuing to bring) this family through this tragedy was I able to persevere. However, I'm glad I did, for the story of hope and the lives changed by the gift of organ donation were beautiful to see, as were the evidences of God's hand along the way in tiny details and "coincidences" that can only be explained by recognizing God's involvement in every minute detail. Having an extended family member who received a liver transplant as a baby, I know what the gift of organ donation means to the life of the recipient and to the entire family. Redeeming tragedy is God's specialty, and Todd & Tara Storch are testimonies of the beauty He is bringing from their ashes.

Click the button below to learn more about organ donation and register to be an organ donor

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a copy of this book free from Revell Books as part of a blog tour. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”