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OUR MISSION
The TayStrong Foundation supports individuals and families affected by traumatic brain injuries and complex medical conditions by providing essential home modifications, medical equipment, financial assistance, and caregiver resources. We empower families to safely care for their loved ones at home by filling the critical gaps left by traditional healthcare systems.
TAY'S STORY
Tay was a bright, creative, and compassionate young woman whose smile could light up a room. She loved art, cared deeply for others, and had big plans for her future. After graduation, she dreamed of attending art school to refine her talent for drawing and begin a tattoo apprenticeship. She was the kind of person who always looked out for others, especially her younger brother, whom she cared for with a nurturing, motherly love beyond her years.
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But just two days after her 18th birthday, Tay’s life changed forever.
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As a passenger in a friend’s car, Tay was in a devastating accident that left her with a traumatic brain injury and 27 other life-threatening injuries. In an instant, she went from a vibrant, independent teenager with endless potential to a young woman in a semi-conscious state, fully reliant on others for care.
A MOTHER'S LOVE AND UNRELENTING FIGHT
From the moment the accident happened, Tay’s mother never left her side. She stayed in the hospital day after day, learning every detail of her daughter’s condition, speaking with doctors, and advocating for every treatment and therapy available. She faced not only the emotional toll of seeing her daughter in this condition but also the overwhelming reality of navigating a complex healthcare system that often fails families when they need it most.
When it became clear that Tay would need long-term care, her mother made a decision with her heart to bring her home.
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But bringing Tay home wasn’t simple. It meant modifying the house to make it safe and accessible, purchasing specialized equipment like a wheelchair van, a tilt table, and therapy devices that insurance wouldn’t cover. It meant learning how to manage things like tracheotomy care, feeding tubes, mobility support, and more tasks most parents are never prepared to do.
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Despite endless challenges; financial, emotional, and physical, Tay’s mother remained determined. She chose love and dignity over convenience, proving that healing, even the slow kind, happens best at home surrounded by family.
THE SPARK THAT BECAME A MISSION
This journey revealed the deep gaps in resources, support, and education available to families like Tay’s. Most caregivers are left to figure it out on their own, facing not just the emotional weight of caregiving but the financial and logistical barriers that come with it.
Through this struggle, the TayStrong Foundation was born. What started as one family’s fight to care for their daughter turned into a mission to help other families do the same, to give them the tools, resources, and hope they need to care for their loved ones at home.
TAY'S RECOVERY TODAY
It has been a little over two years since the accident. Tay is now stable and home with her family, where she continues to receive 24/7 care. She faces minor complications from time to time, but being home has allowed her to make small but meaningful strides in her recovery, like moving her arms to press a button.
Her journey is still long, but her family remains hopeful that one day she will walk, talk, smile, and be herself again. Caring for Tay at home is not easy, but it is filled with love, hope, and the belief that she deserves dignity and comfort every step of the way.