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. 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. "This was a huge wake-up call, and I don’t take life for granted at all," Joshua said.

At any time, nearly 1,000 Kentuckians await a lifesaving organ transplant. Without donors, organ transplantation is not possible. To learn more or to register as a donor, please visit donatelifeky.org.