Meet Taylor Byrer

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Taylor Byrer. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Taylor, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?

I was born with biliary atresia, and my parents were told early on that I would likely need a liver transplant before my first birthday. At three months old, I had a Kasai Procedure and against all odds, it carried me all the way to age 32 before I finally needed a transplant.

Growing up, I always knew I wanted to be involved in transplantation in some way. I became a registered nurse in 2019, but since I hadn’t yet had my own transplant, I never worked directly in the field. In 2023, I felt called to deepen the way I supported others, so I enrolled in a nurse coaching program. By December 2024, I became a board‑certified nurse coach not yet realizing how essential that training would become.

On April 19, 2024, everything changed. I received a portion of my cousin’s liver, and for the first time since becoming a nurse, I was the one in the hospital bed. Those 17 days as a patient gave me a completely new perspective. I experienced firsthand the gaps in care before, during, and after transplant, gaps I had never fully understood from the provider side.

I kept thinking about all the other transplant recipients who don’t have a medical background and how overwhelming and isolating the process must feel for them. As I navigated my own recovery, I also began to recognize the emotional and mental challenges that come with transplantation, the parts no one talks about. I started sharing my journey online because I knew I couldn’t be the only one feeling this way. The response confirmed it: so many recipients were struggling silently.

That’s when my purpose became clear.
Today, I’m a transplant wellness coach, helping recipients navigate the mental and emotional side of the transplant journey, the parts that often get overlooked and no one talks about but matter just as much as the physical medical care. My lived experience, nursing background, and board‑certified nurse coaching training all come together to support people through one of the most vulnerable chapters of their lives.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I’m deeply focused on supporting people through the mental and emotional side of the transplant journey, both before and after surgery. As a transplant recipient myself, I know firsthand that while the medical side of transplantation is well‑supported, the mental and emotional reality can feel incredibly isolating. My work exists to change that.

Today, I offer small‑group coaching and 1:1 support designed specifically for transplant recipients who are navigating the fears, identity shifts, grief, gratitude, and complex emotions that come with this experience. What feels most meaningful about this work is creating a space where people no longer feel like they’re on an island by themselves. There’s something powerful about being surrounded by others who truly understand not because they read about it, but because they’re living it.

My goal is to shine light on the mental and emotional challenges we face without tearing us down or making us feel “broken.” Instead, I want to build a community that lifts each other up through shared understanding, respect, and the unique stories that shape us. Every transplant journey is different, but none of us should have to walk it alone.

I’m currently expanding my offerings to reach more recipients who need this kind of support. That includes new group coaching cohorts, deeper 1:1 programs, and upcoming resources designed to help people feel grounded, seen, and emotionally equipped throughout their transplant experience. This work is personal to me, and I’m committed to continuing to grow it in ways that honor the strength, vulnerability, and resilience of our community.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Looking back, the three qualities that have had the biggest impact on my journey are grit, empathy, and emotional awareness, all of which were shaped by my transplant experience from a very young age.

First, growing up knowing I was born different and would face challenges most kids never have to think about built a level of grit, determination, and tenacity that has stayed with me for life. When you’re navigating hospitals and uncertainty as a child, you learn early on how to keep going even when things feel overwhelming. That resilience became the foundation for everything I do today.

Second, I developed a deep sense of empathy and compassion. I can still remember walking the halls of the children’s hospital and seeing other kids who were dealt even tougher cards than I was yet they still carried joy, love, and light within them. That left a permanent mark on me. It taught me to treat every person I meet with the same compassion I’d offer someone I’ve loved my whole life, because we never know the battles someone is carrying. We’re all dealt different hands, and some are incredibly hard.

Finally, emotional awareness- the ability to understand my own feelings and hold space for the feelings of others has been essential. The transplant journey forces you to confront fear, gratitude, grief, hope, and identity all at once. Learning to navigate those emotions helped me later support others through theirs.

For anyone early in their journey, my advice is this:

Lean into your resilience. You don’t have to feel strong every day, but every challenge you face is building a strength you’ll carry forward.

Practice compassion for yourself and others. You’re allowed to feel everything you feel, and offering yourself grace is just as important as offering it to others.

Stay connected. Don’t isolate yourself. Seek out people who understand, who listen without judgment, and who remind you that you’re not alone.

These qualities aren’t things you’re expected to master overnight. They grow with you. And the more you nurture them, the more they’ll guide you through the hardest moments and help you support others along the way.

We’ve all got limited resources, time, energy, focus etc – so if you had to choose between going all in on your strengths or working on areas where you aren’t as strong, what would you choose?

I’ve always believed that real growth comes from stepping outside your comfort zone and leaning into the areas where you feel the least confident. Strengths are important they’re the foundation you stand on and it’s the willingness to challenge your weaker areas that truly expands who you are.

For me, this belief started early. Growing up knowing I was born different meant I had to face things most kids never even think about. That experience taught me that your limits are often just the boundaries you believe exist. Every time I pushed myself, every time I faced something scary or unfamiliar, I learned something new about who I was and what I was capable of. That mindset built a kind of inner strength no one can take away, grit, heart, and a deep trust in my ability to keep going.

When you only stay in the areas where you already shine, you miss out on discovering the parts of yourself that haven’t been tested yet. But when you challenge yourself even in small ways, you grow. You learn. You stretch. And you realize that the version of you on the other side is stronger, wiser, and more grounded.

My advice for anyone early in their journey is this: don’t be afraid to lean into the uncomfortable places. You don’t have to master everything, but you do owe it to yourself to explore your edges. Every time you push past a fear or a weakness, you’re building something inside you that lasts. Knowledge, resilience, and self-belief are things no one can take from you, and they will carry you further than you ever imagined.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://instagram.com/byrer.integrative.wellness
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