Second Chance at Life

For most teenagers, life is about having fun, being carefree, and not worrying about anything except what to wear, hanging out with peers, and getting good grades in school. This is not the case for the medium built, and long brown haired, 14 year old Kendra Taylor from Celina, Ohio.

Born, January 13, 1995 to Ron and Brenda Taylor, Kendra was a healthy seven pound baby girl. She is currently a freshman at Celina High School but took a hard road to get there. From the start of her life, her parents took her to church faithfully, providing her with a strong Christian foundation. Kendra was a stubborn, quiet, and headstrong little girl that loved her brother so much that she would follow him around pinching his cheeks. At the age of three, Kendra spent countless hours dancing in front of the television and radio to Hootie and the Blowfish, or rewinding The Little Mermaid over and over, even into the middle of the night. Kendra lived an ordinary life, attending Celina Christian School playing volleyball, basketball, and softball from kindergarten through the sixth grade. In seventh grade, she began attending school at Celina Middle School and her life began changing.

At the age of 11, blue-eyed Kendra, who loved God more than anything, started experiencing fatigue, rapid weight loss, severe stomach pain, and became very pale. Her mother immediately began seeking answers, with weekly visits to multiple doctors. After months of these visits, Kendra’s symptoms worsened and she developed a cough.

In April 2009, Kendra was preparing to leave on a field trip to Chicago with her church youth group, and because of her constant coughing; her mother thought it was best to take Kendra to the local hospital for an emergency vis...

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...rward to returning to her love of sports and just being a normal teenager once again. There is very little information about her condition. Kendra remains confident that God will continue to guide the doctors as they continue her care.

Kendra has been given a second chance at life causing her to gain a new perspective. She has grown so much and her maturity level is out of this world for such a young lady. She has become more risk taking and outgoing because she came face to face with the harsh reality that life can end at any moment. This has caused her to want to experience new things. Kendra’s ordeal has made her more a leader than a follower and she is more willing to take chances to experience life. Kendra still holds tight to her Christian beliefs and an undying love for God.

Works Cited

Taylor, Kendra L. Personal interview. 25 October 2009.