Winston Lowe

Hello, my name is Winston Lowe, a brother of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternal Organization, Inc., Xi Delta Lambda Chapter in Henrico, Virginia. I’d like to share the story of one of my fraternity brothers and his daughter, Taylor.

Taylor was born at just 25 weeks on March 22, 2004, weighing only 1 lb. 4 oz. Her mother developed preeclampsia and experienced serious postpartum complications, making this one of the most difficult periods their family had ever faced. During that time, my brother attended numerous NICU parent meetings while navigating the uncertainty and fear that comes with having a micro-preemie in critical care. Taylor remained in the NICU for six months, and her medical bills totaled approximately $2.4 million.

During one of those meetings, a representative from the March of Dimes connected the family with essential hospital resources, including Social Security, Social Services, and the financial department. With their assistance—and the support of their insurance—the family’s final out-of-pocket responsibility was reduced to just $625. 🙏

Taylor’s early years continued to present challenges. Although she initially passed her newborn hearing screening, she later experienced hearing loss and required glasses. She also needed a G-tube for feeding. Her father took eight weeks off from work to enroll her in a specialized feeding program at MCV. Once she entered the school system’s early intervention program, he worked closely with her on speech development and supported her through receiving a cochlear implant.

Today, Taylor still faces challenges, but she has overcome many obstacles. She has been working as an assistant at a daycare for the past three years—an accomplishment that reflects her strength, perseverance, and the unwavering support of her family. 💙