NISKAYUNA, N.Y. -- "I was constantly encouraging her," said Raymond Bowman about his daughter.
For Taejah Bowman, a mini-music studio allowed her to escape from her medical challenges.
"I told her that everything she was going through wasn't going to be for nothing. And that's how we lived our lives," said Raymond.
Taejah was born with a rare intestinal disease and was one of the first few hundred people in the world to get an intestinal transplant. Complications led to constant hospital visits.
Raymond said, "She's beaten everything - sepsis, gangrene - and we just never thought she wouldn't be around."
Her father, Raymond, finds it difficult to talk about his daughter, because he is so proud of all she accomplished in her 16 years.
"I am beautiful. I am a hard worker. I believe I will be an intelligent, strong beautiful successful woman. I live," wrote Taejah.
She wrote poetry, designed clothes, and loved to sing.
Raymond said, "I don't know how many ER visits and ambulance rides and plane rides back and forth to Pittsburgh."
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Whenever it seemed she was recovering, she would have another setback, eventually needing transplants of other organs which they didn't know if she'd ever get.
"I love you guys. Stay strong. And I'll see you in a month," said Taejah in a video.
That was from a video taken just before she did get the transplants she needed in April of 2007. But four months later, she passed away after an aneurysm -- a teen who had just been studying for hours to get her driving permit who got to drive only once.
"I thought I knew what death was about," said Raymond. "But when it's your child and it hits your home and you come home to an empty bedroom, words don't describe it."
By her being one of the first to get an intestinal transplant, her father hopes doctors have learned from her to help others live longer -- one reason he wants to get the word out through the Taejah Bowman Foundation just how important it is to be an organ donor. Their first fundraiser is Saturday. It would have been her 17th birthday.
Raymond said, "We're going to be telling her story and encouraging all people who want to promote organ tissue donation, and we want to help a special needs child's dream come true."
Leaving a legacy she didn't ask to be burdened with but a life that her father hopes will help children like his daughter keep singing.