Little Falls woman urging people to become organ donors

By GARY LIBERATOR

LITTLE FALLS, N.Y. (WKTV) - April is National Donate Life Month, a month long local, state and national campaign to urge people to become organ donors, and a Little Falls woman is hoping her story may get you to do just that.

Laurel Mielcarski has had a long, rough road battling kidney disease. However, now in her late 30's, she has realized the dream she always dreamed about - having a baby.

Her son, Logan, is now seven months old, but over the past twenty years, Laurel and the rest of her family thought he would have never have been possible. He came into this world, though, thanks to kidney donation.

Laurel found out she had kidney disease in 1991, and eventually was in need of a new kidney. Her mother-in-law was a match and donated one of hers. However, it failed after two years. 

Another family member, her older brother Rick, was also a match and he also said he would donate one of his kidneys. 
That one has been a perfect fit for three years, and last fall Laurel gave birth to Logan.

Laurel says she may have never gotten a kidney if it weren't for her family members, because the waiting list for organs is so long. She now wants to urge others to become organ donors because she says you never know if you will be in need yourself.

To learn more about organ donation here in New York State and to become a donor, log on towww.donatelifeny.org. The national website is organdonor.gov