When Joy Collides With Crisis

Childbirth is supposed to be one of the most joyful moments in life. For Taylor Coffman, it was also the most terrifying. Moments after delivering her daughter, her body began shutting down. What looked like exhaustion quickly turned into organ failure, revealing a rare and life-threatening disease called atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome, or aHUS.

Only a small percentage of rare diseases even have treatments available. For Taylor, the timing of her diagnosis and care meant the difference between life and death. She was one of the lucky few.

The Power of Advocacy in Healthcare

Taylor’s story reminded me how quickly circumstances can shift. In her case, a nurse noticed her alarms going off, but it was her husband’s persistence and the teamwork of multiple doctors that led to a diagnosis in time. Taylor later explained how one nephrologist spotted something unusual in her labs and pulled in a hematologist. Together, they recognized what might be happening and ordered a powerful infusion that stabilized her.

What strikes me most is the way Taylor eventually found her voice in the chaos. Lying in a hospital bed, she realized she had no more energy to be polite. She called out what she saw, insisted on communication among her medical team, and became her own advocate. That moment was a turning point in her recovery — and it serves as a poignant reminder of the vital importance of self-advocacy, especially in complex medical situations.

Finding Gratitude After Survival

Taylor spent months recovering, including time on dialysis. She describes the experience as both the worst and the luckiest thing that ever happened to her. The birth of her daughter became her North Star, the reason she fought to stay alive through setbacks, infections, and even a coma.

One image from her story still stays with me: the first time she finally got to hold her daughter in the ICU. The moment lasted only minutes, but it carried her through days of uncertainty. That bond gave her the strength to keep going when giving up might have been easier.

Over time, Taylor’s outlook shifted. Gratitude, once something she had to practice, became second nature. She began to see the beauty in small, everyday moments — the kind that often go unnoticed until life shakes us awake.

Turning Survival Into Purpose

Today, Taylor is a writer and patient advocate. Her Huffington Post article about her medical crisis topped Apple News and reached nearly one million readers in just two days. She continues to share her story through her Substack, Rare Disease Girl, and is working on a book that blends the harsh realities of chronic illness with light, humor, and hope.

For me, her story is more than one of survival. It’s about what happens after survival — how we choose to live, what we learn about ourselves, and how we can use those experiences to help others. Taylor could have kept quiet about her rare disease, but she chose to speak out about it. Her advocacy is a reminder that storytelling is not just healing for the person telling it, but also for those listening.

Why This Replay Matters

Taylor’s episode originally aired on The Life Shift Podcast in 2024. As September 24 marks aHUS Awareness Day, it felt important to bring her voice back into the feed. Rare diseases often go unnoticed until it is too late. Sharing stories like Taylor’s can spark awareness, change outcomes, and help others feel less alone in the hardest moments of their lives.

If you want to hear Taylor’s full story in her own words, listen to the replay episode at www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com.