Beloved Rockland County organ donor advocate Lauren Shields remembered for lifelong mission
Friends, officials and fellow transplant recipients honor Lauren Shields, who inspired thousands to register as organ donors before her death at age 26.
Tributes are pouring in for Lauren Shields, a well‑known organ donor advocate from Rockland County who died on June 25 at age 26. Shields, of Stony Point, spent most of her life championing organ donation after receiving a heart transplant at age 9 and later a kidney from her mother at age 20.
Shields met fellow transplant recipient and advocate Roxanne Watson years ago shortly after each underwent a heart transplant. Together they dedicated themselves to registering new organ donors across the region.
Watson said the partnership changed her life.
"She was my inspiration. Period. No. 1 inspiration," she said.
Watson said the two signed up thousands of new donors at ceremonies, events, and schools over the years. She recalled watching Shields work tirelessly at a young age.
"I'm not saying I wouldn't have done it. But when I met her and saw her out on the trail at that age, carrying her little step stool. How could you not be inspired?" said Watson.
Shields’ advocacy helped shape Lauren’s Law, which requires New Yorkers to answer a question about organ donation when applying for a driver’s license. News 12 spoke with her last August outside the Haverstraw DMV as she waited for another kidney and advocated for more people to register as donors.
Watson spoke about why the pair worked to sign up so many people.
"This is the perfect example of a person who needed an organ and advocated for organ donation and then to... to need in the end. It was probably the toughest thing when I heard it," Watson said.
Shields donated her tissue when she passed away.
Rockland County Executive Ed Day said he registered as an organ donor after meeting her.
"There are people in this world today that are alive because of her," said Day.
Shields worked closely with LiveOnNY. Leonard Achan, the organization’s president and CEO, said they mourn her loss.
"Lauren reminded us that the greatest measure of a life is not how long it lasts, but how deeply it changes the lives of others. Few people accomplish in a lifetime what Lauren accomplished in 26 years," said Achan.
A wake for Shields will be held Wednesday and Thursday, followed by a funeral on Friday.
Watson says she will be in the Palisades Mall on July 4, registering more people to become organ donors. She said Shields would have been there too.
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