Madison Reporter

Recovery after medical treatment is crucial, with caregivers providing essential support. Meghan Baylor, a high school French teacher and professional dancer, experienced unusual exhaustion and bruising in late 2021. Initially, she attributed these symptoms to her demanding dance schedule with her twin sister, Caitlyn Baylor.

“We were doing a lot of high-impact things with our bodies, so [these symptoms] didn’t seem like anything too alarming at the beginning,” Meghan explained.

A routine check-up revealed low blood counts, leading to a diagnosis of aplastic anemia in February 2022 at the UW Health | Carbone Cancer Center. This condition required a bone marrow transplant from an anonymous donor in August 2022. Dr. Natalie Callander managed Meghan's transplant care.

Meghan expressed gratitude for Caitlyn's support as her caregiver during this challenging time. Their shared passion for dance inspired them to create a duet reflecting their journey.

“I was very frustrated by having to scale back on my physical activity during this process,” Meghan said. “But Caitlyn was there with me in the hospital every single day.”

The sisters choreographed "All Will Come Again," drawing inspiration from Rainer Maria Rilke’s poem over 18 months. They aimed to capture the fragility of the body and their unique bond through dance.

“We were interested in using an embodied art form to talk about the fragility and vulnerability of the body,” Meghan noted.

Their performance in May 2024 was emotional for Meghan, who appreciated Dr. Callander's presence and audience reception.

“It was a beautiful feeling to share something so personal with an audience and feel so supported,” she said.

Since her transplant, Meghan has been well and continues channeling experiences into dance alongside Caitlyn.

“With dance, we are always so interested in how you can create work that tells a story that cannot be told in words,” Meghan stated.