NEWS 8 EXCLUSIVE
COPPELL — A skiing trip turned tragic Sunday morning for 13-year-old Taylor Storch of Coppell.
Taylor, who had just learned how to ski, was on a final run down the slopes of a Colorado mountain with her father.
"Todd was skiing behind them to ensure nothing like this would happen, and it was just an accident that happened to our child," said Tara Storch, Taylor's mom. "It was the end of the day, and she had taken ski school, and the ski instructor kept saying she was a natural... 'Are you sure she's never skied before?'"
Taylor was so good as a beginner skier, she decided to join her father and younger brother for one last run on an intermediate trail.
"She was wearing her helmet — never took that helmet off — and was following her brother and just lost control," Taylor's mom said. "From what we understand, she hit the tree and then she spun, and I think when she spun is when she hit another tree."
Taylor was rushed to a Vail hospital with a severe head injury. She was then airlifted to Grand Junction, where doctors pronounced her brain dead on Monday.
Immediately, the Storches did what Taylor would have wanted.
"We just found out yesterday that a one-year-old baby has her heart, and another person has a kidney and a pancreas, and another person has her other kidney," said Todd Storch, Taylor's dad.
Her parents said Taylor Storch always gave of herself. The volleyball player was as sweet as she was athletic.
With plenty of friends to spare, Taylor was happiest with her family. Even in the final moments of her life, they were with her.
"As a father, it was beautiful to see my son and my daughter skiing together," Todd Storch said. "It was gorgeous."
In her home, you can still see a trail of what Taylor left behind — little thoughtful things like a yellow Post-It note from "Daddy's favorite 1st daughter."
"I think the hardest part for me is the things I'm not going to see now," Tara Storch said. "It's like when I wake up, I'm waking up to a nightmare, because I'm going to miss her so much."
E-mail cizzy@wfaa.com
