Marlowe Taylor has worked at the Baltimore City MVA for 11 years, during which time he has seen thousands of Donate Life brochures, sat in dozens of presentations about organ donation, and asked countless times: “Would you like to register to be a donor today? ” But it wasn’t until he learned his wife was in need of a liver transplant that the importance of donation and transplantation really hit home.
Marlowe, the Maintenance Chief, and his wife, Melva, discovered in 2016 that she had two tumors on her liver and that she would need to have it removed and replaced with a transplanted liver. Her doctors at Mercy Hospital referred her to the University of Maryland Medical Center to begin transplant testing.
Marlowe Taylor and his wife, Melva.
Their daughter, Natalie, 36, was tested first and was a perfect match. “I was so happy our daughter stepped up and offered,” Marlowe said proudly.
Just a few months after the initial diagnosis, the transplant took place in January 2017. Surgeons recovered sixty percent of Natalie’s liver and transplanted it into her mother. A year later, both women are doing well, with Natalie’s liver function exceeding her doctors’ expectations.
Marlowe and his family now share their story with family and friends, letting them know about the process his wife and daughter went through and how wonderful the outcome has been. It’s important to Marlowe to share the importance of the caretaker’s role. The hospital nurses gave Marlowe instructions on how to care for Melva once she was discharged, including twice daily injections. He was fortunately able to take two months off to be a full-time caretaker, allowing him to care for his wife, his daughter, and himself.
“People don’t realize how important it is as a caretaker to care of yourself. If you aren’t healthy, you can’t take care of your loved ones. I checked their blood pressure and my own, exercised… it’s extra important during such a crazy time.”
While not all MVA employees have a personal connection like Marlowe, we are so grateful to all who help save lives simply by asking the question: “Would you like to register to be a donor today?”
To learn more about living donation, go to www.thellf.org/livingdonation.
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