Chattanooga dad’s Christmas Eve heartbreak sparks mission to help families with Epilepsy
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — After enduring the unimaginable loss of his daughter to epilepsy, a Chattanooga father is turning his family’s heartbreak into hope for others facing the same battle.
We surprise him on Pay It Forward, sponsored by the McMahan Law Firm.
There are roughly 200 people who work at Intersign on Amnicola Highway in Chattanooga.
Among them is Lee Haggard — a quiet, steady presence who’s spent years building signs by hand and friendships that feel more like family.
But behind the routine of work and the hum of machinery is a story marked by unimaginable loss.
His friend and co-worker, Peter Morgan says...
"He loves his family and he loves his daughter. I don't know that I could be sane."
Lee's daughter, Taylor, had epilepsy. She was driving and had a seizure.
According to Tennessee Law, Taylor had to surrender her license for six months, or until she got her seizures controlled.
She did and was driving again.
Her family says Taylor hadn't had a seizure in more than two years until April of 2017.
She was on 75 in Ooltewah, had a seizure, crossed the median and hit a car head on killing the driver.
Taylor Haggard would never drive again.
And then, just 3 years ago, something happened that no one saw coming.
Taylor's Sister, Chandler Lovain tells us...
"My dad called me and he was like, I really don't want to give you this..."
Peter Morgan said what happened is something he just couldn't fathom:
"Losing a child, you know, you lose parents. I've lost mine, and you lose loved ones and friends, but a daughter, she's not supposed to be that way."
It was Christmas Eve 2023. Taylor had had another seizure. She had so many in her life it made her heart weak. That night her heart just stopped.
As the Haggard family started to heal, Lee had an idea and started the Taylor Haggard Foundation.
The goal of the non-profit is to help families affected by epilepsy.
"We first found out she was sick, there was nobody there for us to talk to. That's why we've created Taylor's foundation to start this, to help people out where they need to go and who they can talk to and just set up things for them."
The Foundation has different fundraisers on the calendar for 2026. You can learn more here.
One of the things they'd like you to buy and donate? Rideshare gift cards for people who, because of seizures, can't drive.