The law is named after a Stony Point 12-year-old
Wearing a pin that read “Donate Life,” 12-year-old Lauren Shields stood in front of a group of family, organ donor advocates and others on Friday to talk about the importance of people enrolling in the organ donation program.
For without an donor, Shields, of Stony Point, herself probably wouldn’t have been able to speak Friday at the officer of State Senator David Carlucci. About three years ago, Shields was diagnosed with viral myocarditis and needed to have heart surgery. Lauren Shields was put on the donor list in February and had surgery in the middle of March. While a bit more than a month on the donor list might not seem too long, Lauren Shields’ mother Jeanne Shields said Lauren’s health was declining quickly every day.
“I never want anyone to have to wait as long as I did for a transplant,” Lauren Shields said Friday. “The law may have my name on it but it is not all about me. I am reminded of that each and every time I visit Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital and meet with the kids that are waiting for transplants.”
Carlucci first met Lauren Shields about two years ago at a naturalization ceremony. Carlucci, as an advocate for organ donation, was talking with County Clerk Paul Piperato, who suggested bringing in advocates for organ donation to talk at naturalization ceremonies. Carlucci saw Shields speak at a ceremony and the two started working together on what would become Lauren’s Law.
“As a kid, it’s an overwhelming feeling to have a law named after you that will soon be signed by the governor,” Shields said. “A bill becoming a law is something I had only read about in textbooks at school, but the reason behind this one was so real to me.”
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{Register to be an organ,eye and tissue donor. To learn how, www.donatelife.net or www.organdonor.gov}
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