El Defensor Chieftain: 'He'll live on in her' Monday, Oct. 04, 2004 • Classifieds • Weather Saturday, October 2, 2004 'He'll live on in her' Refuge's John Taylor dies suddenly, then it's discovered his kidneys are a perfect match for his ailing friend Audry Olmsted El Defensor Chieftain Reporter Out of tragedy blooms the chance for a new life. Such is the case with the recent death of Senior Wildlife Biologist John Paul Taylor Jr., of Bosque del Apache Wildlife Refuge in Socorro, who died Monday in Albuquerque after a massive stroke. He was 49. In a strange twist of fate, Taylor's kidneys were a perfect match for his good friend, Nyleen Troxel-Stowe, who was in need of a kidney transplant. Troxel-Stowe, 35, is a program manager for the Socorro Soil and Water Conservation District and works closely with the people at the refuge, including Taylor. Troxel-Stowe traveled to Fairview Hospital at the University of Minnesota, in Minneapolis, where she underwent a nine-hour transplant surgery early Tuesday morning. Keith Stowe, Trowel-Stowe's husband, said Nyleen is recovering nicely from the surgery. "She's actually doing very well," he said. "The surgeons seemed very pleased with everything that occurred." Stowe said that if everything goes well, Nyleen could go home in as soon as 10 days with follow-up visits. Stowe said Nyleen has been on a waiting list for kidneys for almost two years when the family got the call Monday night that Taylor's kidneys were a match for Nyleen. He said the entire process was very rushed and Nyleen was told she needed to get to Fairview Hospital immediately. Stowe said it was an organ transplant representative in Albuquerque who spoke with Taylor's family and suggested that since Taylor and Nyleen worked together, the hospital could see if Taylor's kidneys were a match for Nyleen. When the match was found, the family made a directed transplant donation to Nyleen. Stowe said at this point, his family's thoughts are with Taylor's family and what they are going through right now. "Our thoughts and prayers are with the Taylors right now," he said. "Our very strong concerns are with the Taylors." Stowe said four years ago his family was told the average waiting time for an organ transplant was six years. He said Nyleen had started using in-home dialysis about a month ago. Co-workers were stunned when they learned of Taylor's death. "We were shocked and saddened by John's death but are glad Nyleen seems to be doing well," said Maggie O'Connell, visitor services chief for Bosque del Apache refuge. O'Connell said Taylor worked at the bosque for 18 years. She said he was an expert in eradicating salt cedar and in restoration of the bosque. He also received local, regional and national attention for his work in wetland management and geese culture. In 2003, Taylor was honored as the recipient of the National Wildlife Refuge Employee of the Year Award. Merry-Jo Fahl, district coordinator for the Sierra Soil and Water Conservation District said Troxel-Stowe is well respected by the people she works with. "She is an outstanding person," she said. "I just love her to death. She is a wonderful person." Troxel-Stowe has done many things for the health of the bosque, including working on the Lower Rio Grande salt cedar project and also working to locate and map out perennial pepper weed, a noxious plant that is toxic to animals such as cattle and horses. "She's been awarded nationally for her efforts in noxious plants," Fahl said. Troxel-Stowe is also the president of the New Mexico Vegetative Management Association and has spoken on the topic of noxious plants in Washington D.C. Fahl said Troxel-Stowe is the poster child for her job because of her passion and commitment and energy to her work. Fahl said Trowel-Stowe and Taylor were friends long before they worked together. "They were very good friends," she said. She said Taylor would have been happy to know that he helped Troxel-Stowe, who has had diabetes for the greater portion of her life, to live. "I know John would have been very proud to do that for her," Fahl said. "He'll live on in her." A rosary service will be held today at 1:30 p.m., followed by a funeral mass at 2 p.m., at San Albino Church in Mesilla. On Oct. 3, there will be an outdoor memorial service at the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge. The Visitor's Center will be closed for the day. E-mail this story Printer-friendly version Sponsors Interested in promoting your business on the El Defensor Chieftain site? There's always more in our print edition. Subscribe to El Defensor Chieftain! 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