...the girl has lent her name to "Lauren's Law," a bill in the state legislature that would mandate that people applying for a driver's license answer whether or not they want to be registered as an organ donor.
After she survived a bout with degenerative heart disease, 10-year-old heart transplant recipient Lauren Shields is helping to pass legislation that would help increase the number of organ donors in her home state of New York, reports the Albany Times Union.
When she was 7 years old, Lauren contracted a virus that eventually led her to develop degenerative heart disease. Her illness pushed her to the brink of death, leaving her reliant on cardiac and respiratory life support. In March 2009, however, she received a heart transplant, which saved her life.
Now, the girl has lent her name to "Lauren's Law," a bill in the state legislature that would mandate that people applying for a driver's license answer whether or not they want to be registered as an organ donor.
"Say yes to saving lives and join us," Lauren said during a hearing in Albany, standing on top of a milk crate so she could speak into the microphone.
As of April 5, the bill had made it through the Senate Transportation Committee, and it is expected to be put forth for a vote by the full Senate soon.
"This is not a tragedy, this is a miracle," said Senator Diane Savino. "One family's tragedy became another family's miracle."
According to the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN, approximately 2,000 heart transplants take place every year in the United States.
The United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) provides resources to survivors of transplants as well as the families of those will will be donating their organs.
“You Have the Power to Save Lives – Register to be an organ and tissue donor & Tell Your Loved Ones of Your Decision”
Register to be a donor in Ontario at Trillium Gift of Life Network NEW for Ontario: recycleMe.org - Learn The Ins & Outs Of Organ And Tissue Donation. Register Today!
For other Canadian provinces click here
For other Canadian provinces click here
In the United States, be sure to find out how to register in your state at ShareYourLife.org or Download Donor Cards from OrganDonor.Gov
In Great Britain, register at NHS Organ Donor Register
In Australia, register at Australian Organ Donor Register
Your generosity can save or enhance the lives of up to fifty people with heart, kidneys, liver, lungs, pancreas and small intestine transplants (see allotransplantation). One tissue donor can help by donating skin, corneas, bone, tendon, ligaments and heart valves
Has your life been saved by an organ transplant? "Pay it forward" and help spread the word about the need for organ donation - In the U.S. another person is added to the national transplant waiting list every 11 minutes and 18 people die each day waiting for an organ or tissue transplant. Organs can save lives, corneas renew vision, and tissue may help to restore someone's ability to walk, run or move freely without pain. Life Begins with You
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