How a health scare snapped this Kentuckian out of denial
Presented by UK HealthCare
“I was so scared,” said Joshua. “And somebody would come in and sit with me, just to let me know that everything was okay. They were so patient with me and understood. They’ve seen it before and let me know that everything’s okay.” | Photo courtesy of UK HealthCare
When Joshua Taylor was 27, he came down with a case of strep that would change his life.
His sickness eventually led to heart disease requiring a pacemaker. Following other complications stemming from a routine pacemaker replacement, he was hospitalized locally in Owensboro. As his condition worsened, his doctor recommended that he transfer to UK HealthCare.
“That was probably the best decision I ever made in my life,” he said.
“You would be dead if not,” finished his wife, Jill.
Preparing for a transplant
Joshua had hoped to never need a Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) — but it was his only hope to keep his heart beating while he waited for a new heart.
He credits Dr. Andrew R. Kolodziej, Medical Director of Heart Transplantation, and the entire team at UK HealthCare, for the fact that he’s here at all.
“I still tell Dr. Kolodziej today that without him, I wouldn’t be here, because he kept telling me, ‘You need to get this LVAD,’” he said.
It took a medically-induced coma, 180 days of around-the-clock care, and months of rehabilitation at UK HealthCare before he was ready for the heart + kidney transplant.
“We understood that this was a huge mountain for him to climb, mentally and emotionally,” said Kathryn Gaines, Joshua’s physical therapist. “We spent a lot of time talking through whatever was on his mind and assuring him that he was not alone. We were there every step of the way.”
In 2020, he underwent the 12-hour double transplant surgery, performed by Dr. Rajasekhar S. R. Malyala and Dr. Siddharth Desai, 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,” said Joshua. “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.”
Trivia | 8 p.m. | Tin Roof Lexington | Price of Purchase| Assemble your team and head to the roof to enjoy Happy Hour prices and compete for prizes as the folks from Local Trivia Action test your knowledge.
Tuesday, April 29
Bourbon Tasting | 6:30-7:30 p.m. | Granddam at The Manchester | $40 | Find your favorite bourbon as you explore the process, quality + taste profiles of Kentucky’s smoothest spirit.
Wednesday, April 30
Craft + Candle Cocktail Bar | 11:30 a.m.-7 p.m. | Wick + Mortar Studio | $15+ | Unleash your creative side to make your own candle, reed diffuser, fabric spritz, and more — cocktails, wine + beer available for purchase.
Thursday, May 1
Spring Carnival at Fayette Mall | Thursday, May 1-Sunday, May 4 | Times vary | Fayette Mall | Price of purchase | Fayette Mall Spring Carnival will host a carnival complete with rides, games, food + fun for the whole family.
Friday, May 2
“The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical” | Friday, May 2-Sunday, May 18 | Times vary | Leeds Center, Winchester | $19+ | From the book to the stage, join Percy Jackson on his epic quest to prevent a war among gods.
Keep your eyes on the skies tonight. Millions of birds are making their annual migration north, and numbers could peak this evening. Sparrows, wrens, kinglets, gnatcatchers, and warblers are among the species you might catch a glimpse of. (Lexington Herald-Leader)
Drink
Bluegrass Distillers’ Blue Corn Bourbon is back. Coming to shelves at the company’s Elkwood Farm Distillery in Midway, the seven-year, 100-proof batch was made using the commonwealth’s heirloom blue corn.
Watch
“A poem for all those who seek nothing more than to be themselves.” That was the caption on outgoing Kentucky Poet Laureate Silas House’s final Instagram post before his term ended late last week. Laurel County-born House was appointed in 2023.
Mansion Monday
A modern take on a classic Kentuckian home. This recently listed four bed, three bath home in Lexington’s Chevy Chase neighborhood oozes style, with remodeled features, ornate fixings, and open-plan living. We’re fans of the breakfast bar and gorgeous outdoor space.
Significant savings. Highly trained, insured pros. Trusted service backed by the Neighborly Done Right Promise™. These are just a few perks of working with Window Genie. From free estimates to year-round maintenance plans, these experts make it easy to care for — and love — your home. Take a look at services and coupons.*
They went from a 40-seat “blink-and-you’d-miss-it” bar to routinely topping “best of” awards lists across the country. Now Death & Co is expanding to Nashville, Seattle, Las Vegas, Atlanta, and even Australia. Don’t miss your chance to invest in Death & Co stock and lock in the current share price by May 15.†‡*
Job
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Community
You get a book, you get a book
A Little Free Library at 901 Cramer Ave. | Photo by LEXtoday
Are you looking for your next favorite summer read? Or maybe you have a stack of books you’re finished with that need a new home. Today we’re talking free libraries — a win-win for everyone.
Pro tip: This city-wide book shopping spree is a fun way to find your next beach read or explore our city with the little ones in your life.
The Little Free Library concept is not a city-sponsored program — it’s a nonprofit working to build community + create a love of reading by supporting neighborhood book exchanges all over the world.
Fun fact: In Lexington, we have ~50 Little Free Libraries, but globally, there are 125,000 across 100+ countries.
Little Free Library also has a map feature that allows you to see all of the locations in your area. Pro tip: This tool is useful because sometimes the address listed isn’t exact, and you may need to explore the neighborhood a bit for the location.
Want to build your own? Check out this helpful video to learn how you can share your favorite reads with Lexington.
A pair of Kentucky Wildcats are heading to Buffalo. Defensive players Maxwell Hairston and Deone Walker were both drafted by the Bills during this weekend’s NFL Draft.
Hairston was taken No. 30 overall, becoming the first UK player to go in the first round since 2021, and just the 18th all time. Road trip anyone?
‡This is a paid advertisement for Death & Company Regulation A offering. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Please read the offering circular at invest.deathandcompany.com.
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