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LOGAN — Tayzli "Tay-Tay" Hale loved pink, singing and animals. Her mother, Whitney Hale, laughed as she remembered that even though their donkeys hated everyone, they were still drawn to Tayzli.
Her young daughter especially loved riding horses, Whitney Hale said, noting that one day after preschool, Tayzli was riding her horse when the animal was spooked, causing her to tumble off — hitting her head and receiving a traumatic brain injury.
The mother held out hope for a miracle, but when she realized her daughter would not survive, she and her husband decided to donate Tayzli's organs.
"We ultimately decided Tayzli would love to be an organ donor if she had the opportunity and a chance to answer — because that's just who she was. If you needed a bandage, she would be the first person to run out and give you a Band-Aid or kiss it better," she said.
Tayzli was 3 years old when she passed away in September 2017 — and despite her own life being cut short, her organ and tissue donations allowed four others to continue living.
The little girl and her family were honored April 18 with a tributary plaque hanging at the Logan Driver License Division, a service that the Utah agency and nonprofit DonorConnect have done to promote awareness of the lifesaving benefits of organ donation.
"Anytime we can touch the hearts of others through these stories, I think it's a wonderful way to not only remember and honor those loved ones who passed away but also to let people know that they can also do their part and make a difference in the community," Brady Dransfield, DonorConnect's manager of public relations, said.
Even though her daughter died, Whitney Hale noted how honoring her daughter this year would continue Tayzli's legacy.
"I'm the type of mom that if my kids score a goal or get an A or aces a test — like, I'm probably going to cry. I get so proud," Whitney Hale said, her voice trembling. "My daughter's gone now, and I don't get to do that for her. But I do get to do it in a sense that she's making a difference to this day, and she's not forgotten."
Dransfield said planting plaques at different Driver License Division offices around the state can inspire residents to become willing donors themselves. The plaques can showcase a deceased or living donor, as well as the donor's recipient, in some cases.
"Currently, the registration rate (for donors) in Utah sits around 60%," he said. "Bottom line is, we want to increase that number by educating people who don't understand or don't want to (sign up) for specific reasons. So, we don't force them to do anything that's against their will, but we just educate them."
The Hale family retells their painful story to raise awareness of the importance of organ donation and hosts a donation drive every September on the anniversary of Tayzli's passing. Whitney Hale attends driver education classes and health classes in the area, explaining what the organ donation process is like, helping to assuage any fears people might have.
"By spreading more awareness about it, talking about it, talking about the process and how they honor you and how special it is, how much it means to these families — it just takes away the scary and unknown," she said.
Whitney Hale also created "The Tay Tay Tough Foundation," which raises money for organ donation awareness, provides supplies to hospitals and gives assistance to other families who have lost a child.
"You don't want to think about your child passing away but, unfortunately, it does happen, and there's so many children out there that do need organs, every single day," she said. "We just try to raise awareness in our community."
Correction: Brady Dransfield was incorrectly named as Bryan.
