Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
You're listening to the best of Hudson Valley this Morning
with Ed Kowalski for the week that just concluded. This week,
we're highlighting our interview with Lauren Shields, the Community Affairs
liaison for a Livenewyork dot org, to talk about the
importance of organ donation. You're not going to want to
miss this one, folks. Hudson Valley this Morning with at Kwalsky.
(00:20):
I am very pleased to welcome to the WKIP microphones,
miss Lauren Shields, the Community and Government Affairs liaison for
Live on New York. Lauren, how are you? Thank you
for calling into the show.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
I'm doing great.
Speaker 3 (00:36):
Thank you so much for having me.
Speaker 1 (00:37):
Oh, you were more than welcome. As we were just
telling our listeners before you called in, Uncle Mike and
I where we met you at the at the Duchess
County Naturalization ceremony and you came up and you gave
an address to the audience that was probably one of
(00:57):
the most moving addresses that I've ever heard anyone give.
And without stealing any of your thunder, I'd like you
to tell our listeners you know who you are, why
you became associated with Live on New York. Uh and
and some of the things that live on New York
is trying to be able to do. But before you
do that, I have to tell you something, Lauren. I
(01:19):
signed up. I signed up this morning to be an
organ donor.
Speaker 4 (01:22):
You did, I did?
Speaker 2 (01:23):
Oh goodness, I did? Wow and lock them.
Speaker 4 (01:27):
I'd like to learn, but I'm not sure anybody really
watched my organs. I spent thirty years on the road
and I abused my body pretty badly, so but uh.
Speaker 1 (01:36):
You know, you never know.
Speaker 3 (01:37):
We can talk about that later too.
Speaker 4 (01:39):
I want to talk about that because it's an important message,
it really is. And uh, I have to be honest
with you. You know. That was the first naturalization ceremony
for Ed and I both and I was blown away
by the ceremony. But when they announced you as one
of the speakers, we kind of looked at each other
and said, what does that got to do with naturalization?
Then we heard your story, which is riveting. What you're
going to tell us just a second, But it all
(02:01):
made sense once you spoke. You did a fantastic job
of telling the story and tying it all in. So
I'm going to shut up and let you tell you
because your story is fascinating.
Speaker 3 (02:11):
Thank you, that's all. That's all so nice, Thank you
so much. So I will I'll get into my story.
Fifteen years ago, I received a life saving heart transplant,
and there was no warning that I would need a transplant.
I had been a perfectly healthy child. I was born
perfectly healthy, and somewhere along the way, I just got
(02:34):
a virus that I tapped my heart and went into
heart failure without even knowing it. I presented with blue
like symptoms and at the time I was seven years
old and I just had trouble walking up a flight
of stairs. I would come home from school and I
would sleep a lot, and as a family, like we
(02:59):
never to think she's in the midst of heart failure.
You know, that's not the first thing you think about.
And when I went to the pediatrician, I was so
lucky of the pediatrition that I had. He sent me
to the hospital and he knew something wasn't right. So
he said, get an X ray and get a cardiac
ultrasound and just see, you know, what's going on. And
(03:24):
what the x ray showed was that I had fluid
all in my ribcage and around my heart. Their cardiac
ultrasound showed that my heart was functioning at fourteen percent,
and from that moment, my life changed overnight. I was
again seven years old, so I was very scared. I
(03:45):
had never been in a hospital before, and immediately they
had to, you know, put chest tubes in to drain
the fluid around my heart and try to figure out
what was going on. So it was very, very scary
time for me. I was transferred to Columbia Presbyterian. They
(04:06):
had a pediatric ICU unit there, and when my mom
found out that they had a specialized unit for cardiac patients,
she immediately knew that that was the right place for me.
And I spent a total of nine months there in
the cardiac ICU and for a while, the doctors there
(04:27):
tried to treat my heart with medication and steroids, which
seemed to help, but really eventually my other systems started
to shut down and they told me that a new heart,
a heart transplant, was what I needed to get back
to the life that I remembered as a kid. And
at that age, I didn't know what a heart transplant was.
(04:48):
I didn't understand, but I put all of my trust
in the team of doctors that took care of me.
They became my second family. Like I spent and day
in and day out with them. I saw the same verses,
the same doctors every day, and they became my friends,
(05:10):
and I developed such close relationships with them. They would
come and play cards with me, they would you know,
play games with me, and they made it not scary
for me. So I was placed on the transplant waiting list,
and I waited about a month and a half for
(05:31):
my heart. And I was very fortunate because, as I'll
get into later, in New York, people wait months and
sometimes years for the organs that they need. Fortunately, as
I said, I waited a month and a half. But
while I waited, I was declining so quickly that I
needed to be placed in a medically induced coma and
(05:52):
I spent the last fifteen days that I was waiting
on full cardiac and respiratory life support.
Speaker 4 (06:01):
So sorry, you were in a crisis. You were in
a crisis situation. I mean, it was, it was. It
was very close to not You were very close to
not making it.
Speaker 2 (06:11):
I was. I was, and.
Speaker 3 (06:14):
I don't think I realized that, but actually it took,
you know, fifteen years later, I actually heard my cardiologists
admit out loud how close I was, and for me,
that was shocking to hear. The doctor who took care
of me admit, like you did not have time, you
(06:36):
were very close. And while I was on life support,
I was not doing well on the machines. I was
hemorrhaging internally constantly, and they didn't know where the bleeding
was coming from, so they were doing exploratory surgeries and
to try to see where the source of the bleeding was.
(06:57):
And they couldn't even move me from my room. They
had to drape They had to remove everything out of
my room. My mom describes this moment, you know, as
a mother taking everything out of the room that made
me me like all my stuffed animals and my cards
and my art, taking everything out of the room so
(07:21):
that they could drape it and make it a sterile
environment for them to do this procedure to look and
see what was going on, and how hard that was
for her to take all that.
Speaker 2 (07:32):
Out of the room. And they could not find.
Speaker 3 (07:36):
A source of bleeding, so they were concerned. They really
did not know how much longer I had and my mom,
the night before I got my heart had signed off
on one last surgery, and they said, if we don't
find anything, we don't know how much.
Speaker 2 (07:56):
Longer she has.
Speaker 3 (07:57):
And the heart came that night, so they didn't have
to take me to that other surgery. It really came
in the naked time. It's a it's a miracle when
you think about it.
Speaker 1 (08:11):
And your donor's heart. As you said to us at
the at the naturalization ceremony, he was four years old.
Speaker 3 (08:19):
Correct, Yes, it was a four year old boy who
had donated his heart to me. Of course, in that situation,
as a four year old, he's not enrolled, you know,
to be.
Speaker 2 (08:34):
An organ donor.
Speaker 3 (08:35):
But when he passed, his family was given the option,
would you like to donate your son's organs? And they
said yes, His family said yes.
Speaker 2 (08:48):
And to think about.
Speaker 3 (08:49):
That, you know, a family losing their own child, thinking
about how they could save another child who was also
in the same situation that it's just it's unbelievable.
Speaker 4 (09:02):
It is unbelievable more And that's the crux of the conversation.
We have to have. People have to understand what's involved
here with donation. I mean, I don't fully understand it myself.
And we're going to get into that in the next
segment segment. But but you know, Ed and I were
just captivated seats when we heard your story. We started
(09:23):
thinking to see you standing there was a miracle. We
realize that you know you you you got a second
chance at life. And that's what Organ's ownership is all about.
It's a second chance at life for many people.
Speaker 2 (09:34):
It is.
Speaker 3 (09:35):
It really is a second chance at life. And I
want to make sure that I use that second chance
for good and I and I use it to the fullest.
And I believe that I do that.
Speaker 1 (09:47):
And Lauren, I believe that you do that as well,
which is why you're on air with us. I'm going
to ask you if you don't mind, if you could
just stick through it just a quick little break, and
we're going to come right back to talk to you
about h your donor. We're going to talk to you
more importantly about what the organization that you currently are
working with does, and we're going to encourage our listeners
(10:11):
to do what I did this morning and fill out
the form on your site to become an organ donor.
So we'll be right back with Lauren Shields. You're listening
to Ed Kowalski on Hudson Valley this morning, we'll be
right back on WKIPI. Welcome back. We are rejoined by
(10:31):
Lauren Shields, the Community and Government Affairs liaison for Live
on New York. Lauren, thank you for sticking through break.
Why don't you just continue with your story?
Speaker 2 (10:43):
Sure?
Speaker 3 (10:44):
So, I think I was at the point when, you know,
we get the heart, And I want to mention when
I was in that home off for fifteen days, my
mom actually journaled for me. Every single day. She wrote
to me, and she talked about, you know, what was
going on in the hospital, who my doctors were, who
was taking care of me because of the relationships that
(11:07):
I had built that was so important for me. And
she talks about the day that the call came for
the heart and how you know, her and I always
talked about that moment and what that would be like
to get that call, and unfortunately I was not awake
for it.
Speaker 2 (11:24):
But she talks about the moment and how the whole.
Speaker 3 (11:28):
Hospital, like the room was filled with people who came
to tell her the good news, and how everyone was
so happy and they knew that my life was going
to be saved. And I went down for that surgery
and as soon as I came up, my mom says
she could tell right away that I was better, and
I had a working heart. I was warm to the touch,
(11:50):
I had pink back in my face, and my cheeks
were rosy again, and I had a heart that was
working beautifully. And for me this, you know, the surgery
is one thing, but recovery is so much harder. I
had suffered a stroke after my transplant that affected the
entire right side of my body, so I had to do,
(12:15):
you know, physical and occupational therapy. I had to relearn
how to walk because I had been in bed for
so long. I had lost all of my muscle masks,
I lost most of my hair, and it was the
road to recovery was very long and very hard.
Speaker 4 (12:33):
Lauren, and I want to continue on, but I'm just curious.
At seven years old, did you have any idea that
you were dying? Did you know that you were at
a point where you may not I don't think a
seven year old thinks about that, but I'm just curious
what was going through your mind at that time. Did
you think you were dying?
Speaker 3 (12:49):
Yeah, I think you're right. I never thought that I
was going to die, and I think a lot of
that came from the people that were surrounding me at
the time, the staff at the hospital and my mom.
My mom left her job and she stayed with me
day in and day out. And my mom was always
still positive. She never let me be negative. So I
(13:13):
always had such a positive outlook, and I always tried
to think that there's going to be good that comes
of this, and this is not for nothing, and that
I would live.
Speaker 4 (13:24):
And I did you always believe you were going to
get better?
Speaker 3 (13:29):
I did, I really did.
Speaker 4 (13:31):
No, Lauren.
Speaker 1 (13:32):
One of the other things tell our listeners that you
actually celebrate two birthdays. Isn't that correct?
Speaker 2 (13:38):
I do?
Speaker 4 (13:39):
I do?
Speaker 2 (13:41):
You know?
Speaker 3 (13:41):
The March nineteenth is the day that I got my heart,
March nineteenth, two thousand and nine, and so every year
I celebrate that as a second birthday, since that was
my second chance at life, and a lot of transplant
recipients we celebrate it as an anniversary and we and
we celebrate it as a second birthday because we know
(14:04):
how important it is, how meaningful it is, and we
would not be here without our donors, so we want to.
Speaker 2 (14:12):
Honor them in that way.
Speaker 3 (14:15):
And I just it's such a meaningful time. It's almost
figure than my birthday in some ways when that day
comes around, and it's very special. So this March I'll
be celebrating sixteen years.
Speaker 1 (14:29):
Holy Holy, good for you. Good for you. Now, Lauren,
you've you've not met your donor's family, have you?
Speaker 3 (14:38):
I have not.
Speaker 2 (14:39):
I have not.
Speaker 1 (14:41):
Is that something you want to do?
Speaker 3 (14:44):
Absolutely? I would love to meet them one day, especially
to know more about who their son was. You know,
I want to know what he liked to do, what
his you know, favorite color was, what did he like
to eat? Because as a four year old he had
a personality, he lived a life. I want to know
more about that so that I can share that with
(15:07):
all of you and with the community that I interact
with to help keep his legacy.
Speaker 2 (15:12):
Alive and just talk about him.
Speaker 1 (15:15):
Good.
Speaker 3 (15:16):
So I did write a letter to the donor family
in twenty twelve, and they can confirm that they received
the letter, but they did not write back.
Speaker 2 (15:27):
Okay, And I have.
Speaker 3 (15:29):
Met so many other donor families through Live on New
York and through the work that I do. Who say
it takes time, and I completely understand, Sure I do,
But I think I'm ready to write a second letter.
I would love for them to know, you know, what
I'm doing, and I can't share too much about who
(15:49):
I am anything that would like give away who I am.
But I would love to meet them absolutely.
Speaker 1 (15:56):
And you know, Lauren, have to tell you something. We
would love to meet your mother one day. We'd love
to be able to as because I want.
Speaker 4 (16:01):
To another side of the story.
Speaker 1 (16:03):
Yeah, yeah, you know your story is so compelling and
and your mother's involvement in this is so important that
I think her story is something our listeners are going
to want to hear as well.
Speaker 4 (16:14):
And what we need to do. We're gonna have to
take another quick break here in a minute, but what
we need to do now moving forward is that is
to make people understand about Oregon downership. And your story
is a huge reason to do it, but your mother's
story is going to be as well.
Speaker 1 (16:28):
Stick around, Lauren, We'll be right back after the short break.
I want to talk about Live on New York dot
Org with you when we come back. You're listening to
Hudson Valley this morning with It Kowalski. We will be
right back with Lauren Shields from Live Onnew York dot Org.
Welcome back. We are rejoined by Lauren Shields, the Community
and Government affairs liaison for Live on New York. Lauren,
(16:52):
I have to tell you something. I love that job title.
That's a terrific job title. I love it too. There
you go, take it great. So tell us what Live
on New York is all about, But more importantly, tell
us how long have you been associated with them?
Speaker 3 (17:07):
Yes? Yeah, very a very long time. So after my
heart transplant, I started volunteering with Live on New York
and many other you know organizations like the New York
Blood Center and the American Heart Association. But Live on
New York always had a special place in my heart
and I was a volunteer with them for over ten years.
(17:30):
And once I graduated from college, I got a full
time position with them. And it is such an honor
to work with them. That's such a you know, full
circle moment for me, and I really can't imagine doing
anything else.
Speaker 2 (17:44):
I love it. I love it.
Speaker 1 (17:46):
Now, just to give our listeners an idea, Yes, there's
nearly nine thousand New Yorkers statewide, one hundred and thirty one.
I'm reading this from your website, one hundred and thirty
one of whom are children under the age of eighteen
waiting for a life saving transplant. According to the United
Network for Organ Sharing a nationwide, the number is approximately
(18:09):
one hundred thousand people waiting to be able to get
the gift of life. So from that perspective, what Live
on New York is trying to do is be able
to last year. Last year up more than one thousand
organs were transplanted thanks to the acts of organ donors
in the Greater New York area. And that was a record,
but the urgency remains. So tell us a little bit
about that and what and what your organization can do
(18:32):
to be able to get people to be to sign
up like I did. I signed up this morning. I
knew you're coming on. I said, I've got to do
this for Lauren, So I signed up.
Speaker 5 (18:40):
Yes.
Speaker 3 (18:41):
So Live on New York is a nonprofit organization and
we are the federally designated organ Procurement Organization for New York,
which means that we help facilitate organ donation and transplantation
in the Greater New York Area. So our service area
that we serve in New York is you know, Long Island,
(19:02):
the Five Boroughs, the Hudson Valley, Westchester County. Any transplants
that are happening in that area are ones that we
have helped to facilitate. And part of our organization is big.
We have like over three hundred employees and we have
so many interesting positions at Live on New York. And
(19:24):
we have tissue recovery specialists, we have transplant coordinators, we
have the community and government affairs people. My team, like
our team at Live on New York, we are responsible
for community education and for signing people up in the
community to become worgon donors. So we're out there in
new schools in the community, We're partnering with legislators. We're
(19:48):
at blood drives and hospitals, sporting awareness and really helping
to dispel the myths that are out there about worgan donation.
Speaker 4 (19:57):
So it's a Live on New York dot organ The website.
Speaker 2 (20:00):
Correct Live on and why.
Speaker 4 (20:04):
Live on and why dot org. Everybody listening. Everything that
we've talked about is on that website. Is something that
really struck me when you came back here. So, and
it sounds matter of factly, but you said, after I
graduated from college, I went to work for him. Think
about that for a second, the fact that you graduated
from college. It wasn't going to happen unless you had
(20:26):
this this transplant. There's so many that struck me. And
when you said it, you know, after I graduated from college,
you said it kind of matter of factly, and I
know you didn't mean it matter of factly, but think
about that for a second. Had you not had this transplant,
you were not going to graduate from college because you
were not going to survive. And I think that's an
important point to make. And the work that Live on
(20:47):
New York is doing is helping thousands of people get
that opportunity to graduate from college and to do many
things in life that we all take for granted.
Speaker 3 (20:55):
The most like impactful thing that I have seen with
Live on New York.
Speaker 2 (21:02):
Is when a.
Speaker 3 (21:03):
Recipient, a transplant recipient is able to give life to
another person. If you know, if they have a baby,
and they have a child, and that is a direct
correlation to the donor that saved their life. They would
not have been able to do that without the donor
and all of the milestones. Like I every day then
(21:24):
I wake up, I'm grateful every day that I'm able
to stand on my two feet and walk out the
door ungrateful, because there have been many days where I'm
not able to get out of bed and I can't walk,
and I can't do those things. And for me, all
the milestones that I've been able to celebrate, you know,
being a bridesmaid and my brother's wedding and attending his wedding, uh,
(21:48):
graduating high school, graduating college, those are all things that
would not have been possible if I did not receive
my transplant.
Speaker 4 (21:57):
And there are all things that everybody takes for granted.
To be honest with you, no, I'm telling you, I
mean most people do. So the other thing I think
we really have to work on, Lauren, is you know,
talking about organ donorship anything to do with death or
you know, if there's a stigma there that people just
can't get over. And I think it's important we get
(22:19):
over that because your story is devastating to me. I
mean it really is life changing to hear your story
what you went through. But it all comes down to
without organ donorship, we wouldn't be talking to you because
you wouldn't be here. So we've got to get over
that stigma. You know, people don't when you try to
convince them to become an organ donor. They're thinking about
(22:42):
dying is what they're thinking about. I've got to die
to become an organ donor. So I don't want to
talk about it, you know what I mean. That stigma
is there and we got to get over that.
Speaker 3 (22:49):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (22:49):
The other issue too. Your website is so well put together.
And by the way, I just looked at all of
the opening open jobs that are there. There's an incredible
amount of people in credible amount of of opportunities for
people who are interested in perhaps maybe even applying to
your organization and use your talents to advance your cause.
But you know, again, there's also a donation tab. I
(23:10):
want our listeners to know that Live on Live on
New York Foundation gratefully accepts financial contributions to support your mission.
You can make a one time donation, you could make
a monthly donation. It's all available for people to take
a look at Live on new York dot org.
Speaker 4 (23:26):
We're gonna have to take it break here in a minute,
I think, Lauren, but I really want to talk about
that when we come back. We've got to get rid
of that stigma, you know, signing up to be an
organ donor is not admitting you're gonna die. I mean,
but you know what the fact is, we all are
gonna You know, my father had a saying for years,
nobody gets out alive, and that's the truth. And we've
got to get over that stigma though, because you know,
Oregon don donorship is so important and you are walking,
(23:49):
talking living proof how important is it.
Speaker 1 (23:52):
And it didn't hurt, It didn't hurt for me to
sign up. It was it was it was a very
import it was very important. Here you go, So I'm in,
I'm in. So there you go. Hey, listen, Lauren, I'm
going to ask you to stick through just another quick break.
We'll be right back. We want to talk a little
bit more about your story up to the nine o'clock hour,
and we want to be able to make sure our
listeners understand what your organization is all about, what your
(24:13):
mission is trying to be able to accomplish. So if
you can stick around for us and we'll be right back.
You're listening to News Radio fourteen fifty teen seventy AM
ninety eight point five FMWKIP. We will be right back
with Lauren Shields. The Community and Government Affairs liaison for
Live on New York. We can all do this, folks,
we can all help this organization and save lives. Let's
(24:35):
do it. We're back with Lauren Shields, the Community and
Government Affairs Liaison at Liveonnew York dot org. I love
that title. More importantly, I love what Lauren is doing.
So Lauren, continue your story again, Lauren, Lauren, you.
Speaker 4 (24:49):
Must have a huge business card. That's a big title.
It's a great looking business card. It's a great looking
business card. I love this business card. And the back
of the business card is sign up as an organ
donor at Live on New York dot org. It takes
thirty seconds, not even thirty seconds. I did it in
less than fifteen, So do it today, folks. Yeah, but Lauren,
You've got to continue hammering away at this stegment here,
(25:11):
because I think that's one of the things that holds
up people doing what Ed did this morning. And he's
explaining how simple it was. They've got to get over
how and what they're doing is just saying, hey, God forbid,
something happens to me. My organs are still good, and
I could say countless number of lives with the organs,
they can be they're donating, right.
Speaker 1 (25:33):
And the reality of it too. Not that not to
step on your comment there, but but but Lauren, look
at what your your donor did for your family. Look
at I mean, not only it saved your life, but
imagine imagine how I mean. I mean, I know your
mother is grateful. I mean imagine imagine the relief that
she had once that was done. It's almost it's it's
(25:53):
it's incalculable.
Speaker 4 (25:55):
So Lauren, let's tell everybody how simple it is to
be an organ donor.
Speaker 3 (25:59):
It is. You can sign up at the DMV. You know,
when you go to do any kind of license transaction,
they can ask you at the DMV if you would like.
Speaker 2 (26:07):
To be an organ donor.
Speaker 3 (26:09):
You can sign up on our website live on andy
dot org and it's very easy. And you know, one
donor can save up to eight lives through solid organ
donation and can improve up to seventy five lives through
tissue donation. So burn victims may need tissue, breast cancer
survivors may need tissue. You can give the gift of
(26:32):
site to someone through your pornos that's also tissue. So
you never know how you can help someone. And I
know you mentioned earlier like who's gonna want my organs?
Which is something that we hear a lot. And the
oldest donor.
Speaker 2 (26:48):
In New York was ninety five.
Speaker 1 (26:50):
Wow.
Speaker 3 (26:52):
Yes, and they were able to donate part of their
liver to save a fifty five year old. So you
never or know how much of an impact you can make.
Speaker 1 (27:02):
Well, no, now, Lauren, how does mechanically how does someone
know that you're an organ donor? If you're if you're
I mean it, does it say it on your driver's license?
When I signed up this morning on your site to
be an organ donor, how does and if something were
to happen to me, how does the person? How does
the hospital or my medical team know that I'm an
(27:23):
organ donor?
Speaker 2 (27:25):
Mm hmm.
Speaker 3 (27:25):
That's a great question. So the hospital has no way
of looking up whether or not you are an organ donor.
There's no database that they sign into and you know,
look up your name and see whether or not you are.
That is where our organization comes in. So if a
patient meets certain clinical indicators then they god forbid become
(27:48):
you know, brain dead or anything like that, then they
call our organization live on New York and we have
access to that information whether or not they are an
organ donor. We have trained professionals that talk to families,
talk to the family about the process of organ donation.
So even if you don't want to sign up and
(28:10):
make it official, I encourage everyone to at least have
that conversation with their family so that their family knows
what their wishes are, because you never want to leave
that decision up to them in that situation, in that moment,
they're already dealing with yeah enough, so to then leave
(28:30):
that up to them as well, it's very difficult. So
I just encourage everyone to at least talk about it.
You know, it's like we mentioned before, it's not something
that people talk about at the dinner table. You know,
it's not a conversation that people are having. So it's
very important that you talk to your loved ones, see
what they think. See maybe they are already registered and
(28:51):
you don't even know.
Speaker 1 (28:52):
Lauren Shields, I cannot thank you enough.
Speaker 4 (28:55):
We're definitely going to have her back, and you are.
Speaker 1 (28:57):
Absolutely going to be a welcome, a welcome to come
back on and talk about this.
Speaker 4 (29:01):
And you need to bring your mom with you next.
Speaker 1 (29:03):
Time, you bet you.
Speaker 2 (29:04):
I would love that. I know she would love that.
Speaker 3 (29:08):
I don't mean to leave the audience on a cliffhanger
or anything, but I did. I did have a kidney
transplant as.
Speaker 2 (29:15):
Well in twenty twenty.
Speaker 1 (29:16):
Oh my God, and my mom.
Speaker 3 (29:17):
My mom with my donor. So I think that would
be a great story.
Speaker 1 (29:21):
Well, we're gonna set it up. Lauren Shields, thank you
very very much. We we're up against a heartbreak right now.
Thank you very much for calling in Hudson Valley. Thank
you for listening, and become an organ donor today. Will
you there you go. You can listen to Hudson Valley
This Morning with Ed Kowalski Monday through Friday six am
to nine am on News Talk Radio fourteen fifty thirteen
(29:41):
seventy AM and ninety eight five FMWKIP. You're listening to
the best of Hudson Valley this Morning with Ed Kowalski
for the week that just concluded.
Speaker 4 (29:49):
This week, we're featuring a very special interview from Christmas
Eve with Laurence Shields from Live on New York and
her mom Jean, as they read live Lauren's heart transplant.
He was seven years old.
Speaker 1 (30:01):
We are now ready to reintroduce to the w k
Ip microphones. Miss Lauren Shields, who Uncle Mike and I
had the pleasure of being able to meet over at
the Dutchess County Naturalization ceremony Lauren and I believe Lauren's
mother is joining us now to talk a little bit
about and continuing her talking a little bit about her
(30:26):
issues with with and the work that she's doing with
organ donation, and it's such an important and critical topic
to be talking about. Lauren, thank you so very much
for rejoining us.
Speaker 3 (30:40):
Thank you so much for having us.
Speaker 1 (30:42):
Good morning, good morning, And I hope you enjoyed as
we were tracking Santa on his trip around the world,
because that's an important thing for all of our boys
and girls in the Hudson Valley area to be listening
to that. So I hope you had a little bit
of a chance to listen to uh to that I do.
Speaker 3 (30:56):
That's very exciting.
Speaker 1 (30:58):
There you go, Lauren, how war are you?
Speaker 5 (31:00):
Hell?
Speaker 1 (31:00):
I understand you and your mom just got back from vacation.
Speaker 2 (31:02):
We did, yes, we.
Speaker 3 (31:04):
Took a vacation. We went to Mexico, New Cabo for
a week.
Speaker 1 (31:08):
Nice. Nice Lauren, Can you just again very quickly retell
your story for our listeners who perhaps didn't hear it
the first time you were.
Speaker 4 (31:17):
On Mom and Mom. You can chime in at any point, Okay, we'll.
Speaker 2 (31:23):
Do thank you.
Speaker 3 (31:25):
Yes, So for those who didn't hear the story last time.
Fifteen years ago, I received a life saving heart transplant.
I was born perfectly healthy, and there was no warning
that I would need a transplant. I had simply caught
a virus that attacked my heart and suddenly went into
heart failure. And at the time it was discovered, my
(31:47):
heart was already functioning at fourteen percent. And I spent
a total of nine months at Columbia Presbyterian in their
pediatric I see you, And I was seven years old
at the time that I was very scared and I didn't,
you know, understand really what a heart transplant was. But
(32:10):
I knew that I felt very sick and very tired,
and I missed being a kid and being at school
and being with my friends, and I knew. I put
all my trust in the doctors and the team that
took care of me at Columbia, and when they told
me that I needed a heart transplant, I just I
(32:34):
put all my trusts in them, and they listed me
for a transplant, and I waited about a month and
a half for my heart. But while I waited, I
declined rapidly and needed to be placed in a medically
induced coma and I was put on full cardiac and
respigtory life support, and that life support I spent on
(32:59):
that for fifth teen days and while I was in
the While I was on life support, my mom actually
kept a journal for me, and she wrote to me
every day, morning and night.
Speaker 2 (33:12):
You know, who my.
Speaker 3 (33:13):
Nurses were, who my doctors were, what was going on.
Because I was very involved in the environment and the
culture there, and it was a really nice thing for
me to look back on when I woke up and
I normally, you know, every anniversary and every March, I
kind of look back at it and it's amazing to see,
(33:33):
you know, how far I've come and how well I'm
doing now.
Speaker 4 (33:37):
So so now, in the words of Steve Harvey, mom,
how about the rest of the story.
Speaker 5 (33:44):
Well, I you know, she tells it. She does tell
it very well, and it's very very accurate. I can
say from the parent perspective, it was. You know, there's
nothing that prepares you as as a parent to go
through something like that. You know, watching her decline, and
certainly once she went on the machines and was just
(34:06):
you know, silently waiting for the transplant, was you know,
just something It's it's hard to put into words what
you feel as a parent because you really really are
helpless and there's really not much.
Speaker 2 (34:18):
You can do.
Speaker 5 (34:21):
She you know, her heart came and then really in
the nick of time, and you know, we just were
it was so it was such an amazing moment that
day that they came in and actually said that her heart,
her donor had been found. You know, everyone that the
whole team came into the room and it was just
(34:42):
such an amazing experience to know that, you know, she
was going to be saved, you know, because it was
really looking bleak there for a while.
Speaker 1 (34:49):
No, No, what gave you the idea to journal this process?
I mean was that that was that? Was that part
therapeutic for you? Were you trying to make the historical
record so your daughter could could one day read that
journal to tell us about the journaling.
Speaker 5 (35:05):
Yeah, so the journal started. You know, Lauren was always
one of the questions that she asked while she was awake,
was you know, who's going to be my night? Nurse
and who's going to be my nurse tomorrow? And you know,
there were people that were coming to visit, family members, friends,
some of the kids from her class were coming, and
(35:27):
so it was like a part of the process. And
we you know, when you're in for so many days,
you just have to find you know, if you find
the bright spots in the day and you you you
latch onto them. So when she went off into the sleep,
I thought, you know, I'm sure when she wakes up,
she's going to ask me, you know, who was my
(35:48):
you know, who are the nurses that were with me?
So I didn't know how many days it was going
to be for that I would be actually writing. And
it started out kind of you know, short, like I
would just write who her nurse as were and who
came to visit. I would you know, like write and
color on the pages and draw on them as well.
And then as the days went on, you know, I
(36:11):
would write a little bit more about it was always
very upbeat, but I would write a little bit more
about some of the details of you know, who came
in and who took care of her, And then of
course I journals a very long page about the day
that they came in and said that her donor had
been found. So it was it was very great, It
was great. It was therapeutic for me, sure, but I
(36:33):
really did for her.
Speaker 4 (36:34):
So, mom, as this is going on, the clock is ticking. Uh,
you know, I can't imagine losing a child and that
had to be going through your head. I mean, obviously
you stay upbeat, you stay positive, you pray to whoever
you pray to, and and you try to get through that.
But in the meantime, that other side is going on
(36:55):
in the back of your head. That had to be
a struggle.
Speaker 5 (36:57):
Oh yeah, absolutely, it's you know, it's that that is
something real that happens with families, you know, that are
with that have children that are waiting. It's something that
everybody thinks about, you know, you know, you do realize,
you know, I had We had one particular night actually
this the night before her donor was found. You know,
(37:18):
the doctors came in and one of them said to me,
you know, she was hemorrhaging and it was really not
looking good. And they said, you know, I know this
is so hard for you because you know you're waiting,
You're waiting for a child to pass away, and you know,
and I said, you know, the thing is, I'm really
not just waiting for a child to pass away. I'm
(37:40):
actually waiting for a family in their worst possible hour, Yeah,
to say I'm going to give the gift of life
to another and that because children unfortunately they passed, you know,
you know they do pass and but I was waiting
for something even worse. I thought, you know, it seems
so I know the thought of a parent having to
(38:01):
make that decision unbelievable.
Speaker 4 (38:04):
Unbelievable is correct. So Lauren, you know what your mom
is talking about. It's Christmas Eve, and I would have
to think that after that day, Christmas is kind of secondary. Now,
that was that was just that was your Christmas gift
and a second chance at life. But Lauren, speak to
it a little bit about how this certainly highlights how
important orgon donors, you know, our organ donorship is. And
(38:27):
and in your case, it was a you know, you
celebrate two birthdays, which we'll talk about, but it was
your second chance at life.
Speaker 3 (38:36):
Yes, absolutely, you know I was given given that second
chance at life and I do not take that lightly.
You know, every day that I wake up, I'm grateful
because I know I'm here because of a decision that,
you know, a selfless decision that another family made to
say yes to organ donation. And that is the reason
(38:57):
that I'm here. You know, there would be no transplants
if it weren't for the donors. And so I really
love to honor the donors and Live on New York
does such an amazing job at highlighting all the donors.
We're always posting donors and remembering donors on our website
and our social media, and that those were the heroes
(39:20):
in this in the story.
Speaker 1 (39:21):
And Lauren and and I and I wanted to just
tell your mom this because you were so impactful from
my meeting you, I became an organ donor.
Speaker 5 (39:33):
That's awesome.
Speaker 4 (39:34):
Well, and that's the point. And that's that's the point
of you know, one of the points of having you on, Lauren,
besides the incredible story and Mom as well, the incredible
story is that's what you You made that your life
mission now to work for Live on New York dot
com is it or dot org?
Speaker 5 (39:51):
Uh?
Speaker 4 (39:52):
You made that a decision, uh, to spend your life
doing that. And I'm sure Mom helps you with that.
The organ donorship is one of those things people don't
want to talk about, okay, because you're talking about somebody
has to die to get it become an organ donor obviously,
and that's the side of things people just don't want
to talk about. But when you hear a story like
(40:14):
yours and your mom's a journey through this, it becomes
how clear organ downership is so important and how many
thousands of life, maybe more than thousands of life across
the country, can be saved.
Speaker 3 (40:28):
Yes, I think you're absolutely right. It's something that people
do not talk about. You know, it's not a it's
not a Christmas conversation, it's not a dinner topic, but
it should be.
Speaker 4 (40:39):
But the successes, but the successes are though.
Speaker 3 (40:42):
It's you know, I think it should be a topic
talked about because you want you want to explore that
with your family and and hear what their decisions are
and what their thoughts are. And we always say, you know,
when I am encouraging people to sign up, I always
tell them you don't want to leave that decision up
(41:04):
to someone else because in that moment, they are already
dealing with such a loss that to have to put
that on top of them to make that decision. It's
just it's not the right time. It's not so the
time really is now?
Speaker 1 (41:17):
Man, Mom, have you continued journaling? I mean, you know,
in the years since Lauren has received her heart and
in the and with all the things that she has
done in her remarkable life, have you continued the journal
in just in terms of just being able to just
just record the things that you've witnessed and continue to wait.
Speaker 5 (41:36):
You know, yeah, it's funny because I I did keep
that journal going for quite some time after because you know,
she did have a tremendous amount of rehabilitation that needed
to happen after her surgery to get her back on
her feet. So yes, we you know, I journaled for
quite some time. Of course, she did start to really
(41:59):
rebound and get back into really mainstream life, you know,
being a kid again and doing all the fun things,
and then started her advocacy work, so that really I
wasn't journaling there. But we have so many pictures and
articles and it's become more of like, uh, you know,
a scrap book became a box, became a file cabinet.
(42:22):
We have so many things now because of her journey.
You know, her journey continues.
Speaker 1 (42:27):
Well, I'm looking I'm sort of hoping that you're going
to be posting some pictures of your recent vacation down there.
I mean, that's what I want to say, That's what
our listeners want to say.
Speaker 5 (42:37):
But well, we every day is every day is is
a blessing for sure, and so we celebrate every day good.
Speaker 4 (42:43):
But you know, Mom, it's important for you and Lauren
both and I deal a lot with it on the
veteran side because she went through what she went through.
You are such a advocate and a and a I
don't know what the right word is to use, a
vision of hope any one who's going through this now
who may be really having a hard time with it
(43:04):
talking to someone like the two of you who can
who can sit point to learn and say this is
what happens, this is how, this is what kind of happen.
Don't give up. I would think you've got to be
a light at the end of the tunnel for a
lot of people.
Speaker 5 (43:17):
Yeah, I think it's probably one of the best things
and the most rewarding things that we do is we
do speak to a lot of families that are going
through it. You know, basically, our our team, our medical
team has said, you know, they'll always point out a
family to talk to or or they know that they
(43:38):
can pass our number on. I can speak to the parents.
Lauren speaks to the child going through the through the process,
and you know, because it's important. Like I always say
to parents, you know, you think this is your new normal,
but it's really not. If you look at life this
on a timeline. This is only one small spec on
the timeline, and you will, you will get back to
(44:00):
a normal place in life again for sure.
Speaker 1 (44:02):
And yeah, no, I'm sorry, continue to continue. I'm sorry.
Speaker 5 (44:06):
Oh yeah, no, it's just that, it's it's it's something
that you you know, you get back to it too.
Speaker 3 (44:11):
You know.
Speaker 5 (44:12):
The only difference is, you know, she takes medication, but
she's able to live a fulfill a fulfilled life, and
when you're going through it at that time, it's kind
of hard.
Speaker 2 (44:20):
To see that.
Speaker 5 (44:22):
So you're right, it's it's you know, telling the story,
Lauren telling her story is just you know, is a
way to connect people with that.
Speaker 4 (44:31):
You know, it's interesting. I'm a country of music, this
jockiey country music all my life. There's a song called
the Dash, which is exactly what you're talking about. You know,
your gravestone has a birthdate and a death date, but
the most important part on that stone is the dash
where your life is and that and that's that's the
way you've got to look at it.
Speaker 1 (44:50):
Now. Now there's another story, mom, that we want to
talk about. Yeah, because Lauren the last time she was
on air, you know, with with with Mumper music playing
us out because we had to take a quick break
or actually a hard break. Lauren said, Oh, and by
the way, my mom is an organ donor and she
gave me her kidney.
Speaker 4 (45:09):
Now let's talk about that.
Speaker 1 (45:10):
Let's talk about that. Can we talk about that?
Speaker 5 (45:11):
Mom? That's sure thing. Yeah, So I guess it was
back in the twenty twenty. You know. One of the
things that happened sometimes with patients that are taking anti
rejection medications is they you know, can give the results
in some complications, and unfortunately, in Lauren's case, it did
(45:33):
affect her kidneys. And so we found out and during
the during twenty twenty, during the pandemic, that she was
in the midst of kidney failure.
Speaker 1 (45:45):
Wow.
Speaker 5 (45:46):
And so yeah, we were a little you know, we
felt it kind of came out of left Field, and
I remember that day of seeing the kidney specialist and
her saying that she was in stage four kidney failure
that you know, it was kind of like we felt
the floor drop out. But ultimately Lauren, you know, was
(46:06):
going to need a I'll let her tell that part
of that story, but she was going to need a
kidney transplant. And I remember, you know, them when they
were talking about, you know, needing a donor, and you know,
they started talking to us about what we would do
to potentially find a donor. I said, nope, no, no, no,
(46:27):
you have to test me first, because you know, one
of the things when I felt so helpless during the
heart journey that I couldn't give her my heart, but
you know, Heaven knows if I can give her my kidney.
I definitely wanted to be me, and so we began
that process of testing, and sure enough I was a match.
And it was the best feeling in the world to
(46:49):
know that I was going to be able to help her, yeah,
and give her one of my healthy kidneys and.
Speaker 4 (46:54):
Then test them in here, mom, is that you're talking about.
Fourteen years after a heart transfer, she was able to
go through a kidney transplant I think that's an important
part of the story.
Speaker 5 (47:04):
Yeah, yes, yes, yeah, you know it's you know, luckily,
you know, she knew, she kind of knew what to expect.
So it sounds really odd, I think, you know, to
to say that, you know, with for someone that would
be going through a transplant, you know, it's a very
scary thing. I don't want to say it wasn't scary,
but you know, she had already gone.
Speaker 2 (47:26):
Through that process.
Speaker 5 (47:27):
You know, we were really familiar with, you know, what
was going to be happening, and uh it was.
Speaker 3 (47:34):
It was.
Speaker 5 (47:35):
You know again during COVID of all times, you know,
it was the non essential surgeries were shut down and
they consider, believe it or not, kidney transplants to be
non essential. So Lauren was on kidney dialysis for quite
a while before the surgery was even allowed, and that
(47:57):
was a really hard time for her. I think if
you ask her about that, she'll tell you it was
probably the hardest time that she had. And even with
the heart, even in comparison, the kidney dialysis was really very,
very hard time for her.
Speaker 4 (48:10):
I'm going to date myself, Lauren, but I'm going to
rename you. Your new name is Time X because you
take a look in and keep on tickets.
Speaker 1 (48:16):
She does, Yeah, she does. Hey, Lauren, can you tell
our listeners Live on New York the organization that you're
now working with, the organization that allowed me to be
able to meet you. And I'm so thankful to God
at Christmas to be able to meet you and your
mom to talk about this because it is so important.
Tell us a little bit about Live on New York
(48:38):
and tell us how people can can take a look
at your website and make the decision to hopefully become
a donor.
Speaker 3 (48:44):
Absolutely. Yeah, So Live on New York is the is
a nonprofit organization and we are the fatterally designated organ
Procurement Organization for New York, which means that we help
facilitate organ transplants and the greater New York Area and
our territory like our what we oversee in New York.
(49:06):
It's seventy percent of the population in New York. We
see the five boroughs, you know, Long Island all the
way up to Dutchess County, which is how I met
you guys, and the organization not only do we help
facilitate the transplants, meaning you know, we can get some
hearts and kidneys, some organs into our office and then
(49:29):
we help allocate them out. We work with the transplant
centers hospitals, and we also have a team of a
team of employees who are directly trained to work with
donor families so they help them grieve through the process.
There are memory making activities that we do to help
(49:52):
honor the donor heroes who have made the decision, and
we work with families for as long as they need
need to grieve years and years after. You know, there's
no timeline.
Speaker 1 (50:05):
No exploration on grief, no exploration on right right right.
Speaker 3 (50:08):
So we will work with families for as long as
they need. And I am always in awe of the
department that takes care of them, who helps them, uh,
you know, come to that decision if they haven't already
signed up to be a donor in the community, which
is what my department does. We are community and government affairs,
so we work to educate the public and educate the
(50:30):
community to really uh eliminate that stigma around organ donation.
And I uh, as you guys know, I share my
story around in the community as a way to connect
people to the cause. And also you know. I just
think education is the most important part. UH. Learning about
(50:51):
organ donation, the process is so important.
Speaker 4 (50:55):
So live on New York.
Speaker 1 (50:58):
Live on, Live on new York dot org, Live on
new York dot org. Laurenshields is the Community and Government
Affairs Liaison, So Live on new York dot org.
Speaker 4 (51:08):
Please go to that website and check that out. Lawrence signed,
I'm gonna ask you and your little hold through a
real another real quick break. Have you got time for us?
Speaker 2 (51:14):
Sure?
Speaker 4 (51:15):
And I have to know in the office there, please
tell me there's two separate refrigerators, one for lunch and
one for the organs.
Speaker 1 (51:23):
No, oh, okay, okay, we had to get that one
in all right. Vision was in my head.
Speaker 4 (51:30):
I was like, I don't want to be going to
get my lunch and what's this?
Speaker 1 (51:33):
Thank you very much. We'll be right back there. Lauren
Shield's gonna just stick with us, and our mom is
gonna stick with us for a quick break. We'll be
right back. You're listening to Hudson Valley this morning that
KWASKI will be right back.
Speaker 4 (51:42):
So this is Chrismas.
Speaker 5 (51:47):
I love you.
Speaker 1 (51:53):
Welcome back. You're listening to Hudson Valley this morning with
it Kowalski. We are rejoined by Laurence Shield, Jef Jeff Jeff,
just hit the button. Lauren tales, the Community and Government
Affairs liaison from Live On in New York, with her
mom and mom. What is your first name? I'm so
sorry that we've been calling you mom.
Speaker 5 (52:09):
No, that's fine. My first name is Jeane.
Speaker 4 (52:11):
Hi, Jeane, I like mom better.
Speaker 1 (52:13):
My uncle Mike wants to call me mom.
Speaker 5 (52:14):
You call mom.
Speaker 4 (52:15):
Thank you, Lauren, Lauren.
Speaker 1 (52:18):
I want you to know that that I am so
pleased and happy to have met you and to give
yourself and your mom Jeane, this platform to talk about
your story. I want you to know that we're going
to continue to use this show to promote what it
is that you're doing because it is so important. I
also want you to know that tonight when I go
(52:39):
to mass I'll be saying a prayer for both your
family as well as your donors family.
Speaker 3 (52:44):
Oh, thank you, Thank you so much that that really
means a lot to me to know that you know
I have your your support, all of you guys, and
that's the best feeling.
Speaker 4 (52:55):
So Live On in New York that's a nonprofit.
Speaker 2 (52:58):
Correct, Yeah, you are okay?
Speaker 4 (53:01):
So right off the bat, if you're listening to us,
they need help, Okay, they need to be able to
continue what they're doing. Go to their website. I'm sure
there's a donate button on there somewhere. Yes, there is,
and donate whatever you can. But I have to tell you,
I'm one of those people who would never have considered
organ doning or organ donating. I'm honest with you. I
(53:21):
never would have, but I do now after hearing your story.
You know, when you walked up on the podium at
the naturalization ceremony and I looked at each other like, yeah,
I wonder why she's here. And then once you told
your story, we were riveted. And once you told your story,
it was like, Okay, I smacked myself in the back
of the head, said now I get it. And but
you know, it's so important and there's so many families
(53:43):
out there that can be helped. Think about how many
lives can be saved through organ downership and in your
living proof you know you've had two now.
Speaker 1 (53:52):
And the process, yeah, the process, Lauren, as I told
you signing up for it was painless. It was I
was done in thirty.
Speaker 4 (53:59):
Seconds, without anesthesia, without anesthesia.
Speaker 1 (54:02):
I wasn't. I didn't have to be knocked out to
sign up for it. So I mean it's something that
I think we all need to be aware of. You know,
when you look at the statistics, as you last said,
I mean, there's how many there's there's nine thousand people
in New York or in New York right now statewide,
nine thousand people under one hundred and thirty one of
which are children under the age of eighteen who are
waiting for a life saving transplant. And and that's where it's
(54:26):
important to that that that our listeners in the Hudson
Valley know what you do, how important this issue is.
And Lauren, you're living proof of of of of someone
who has uh walked the walk you know, and and
be you know, and and and doing what you're doing
it live on New York right now. Is absolutely It's
so important and it is so inspiring. And that's why
(54:49):
I wanted to get yourself and your mom in And
like I said, you guys just got back from Mexico,
So I mean you had a really good time down there,
I hope right.
Speaker 2 (54:58):
Oh we did?
Speaker 3 (54:58):
You know, the is the first vacation we've really taken
in three years. So we you know, I've been working
so hard, and I, you know, was in college and
I was finishing up, you know, my degree, and we've
both been working so much, so we were super excited
to just go and lay by the pool and lay
(55:20):
on the beach and have some good food and and
some warm weather.
Speaker 1 (55:24):
Good for you, Good for you, Lauren, Live on, New York.
Can you just give the website again and perhaps maybe
even your contact number if people want to reach out
to you think they need for all the follow up questions?
Speaker 3 (55:37):
Sure, sure, Yeah, the website is live on and why
dot org and they can reach me. They can just
email me as the best way to reach me. It's
Elshield my last name, first initial at live on and
why dot org. And I will say for people that
are listening, you know you can if you can make
(56:00):
such a difference. You know, one donor can save up
to eight lives and improve and heal up to seventy
five lives through tissue donation. And don't rule yourself out.
You know you never know who you can help, who
you can save. And the oldest donor in New York
was ninety four years old, So it doesn't matter what age,
(56:24):
you know your health condition, you can always help someone.
Speaker 1 (56:27):
There.
Speaker 4 (56:27):
You go, that's amazing, ninety four years old. What if
I can ask what was the donation?
Speaker 1 (56:32):
What was the organ?
Speaker 3 (56:34):
Yeah, he was able to donate part of his liver
to save a fifty five year old.
Speaker 4 (56:38):
Wow. Wow, yeah, just think about that.
Speaker 2 (56:41):
Incredible And they're.
Speaker 4 (56:43):
Not going to want my liver.
Speaker 1 (56:44):
But you never know, well, you never know, you never know.
Speaker 4 (56:48):
It's got a lot of milags on it.
Speaker 1 (56:50):
You never know. You never know, Lauren.
Speaker 3 (56:53):
Interesting, I'll tell you with the with the liver, you
can donate a piece of your liver.
Speaker 1 (56:59):
And a regeneration. And as a biology major, I can
tell you that's absolutely one hundred percent true. It's the
only it's the only organ in the in the human
body that does that.
Speaker 4 (57:10):
Boy, it's gonna have to be a good surgery to
find a good part of mine to use the donating. Uh.
Lauren and Mom, you know, thank you so much for
what you do and and for enlightening me. Uh, and
I'm sure a lot of our listeners because uh, it's amazing.
I am going to do whatever I can to help
the nonprofit, and uh that's what I do. It's mainly
(57:30):
what I do on the air, so but I'm just curious.
So Christmas time, you know, it's tomorrow is Christmas Day,
And as I said earlier, you you've really had the
ultimate Christmas back in when she got her heart.
Speaker 3 (57:43):
That was.
Speaker 4 (57:44):
I can't think of a more how you're ever going
to top that gift. But uh, for everyone listening, you know,
let them know that you guys are out there and
if they're if they're struggling with this, you are more
than happy to sit down and talk to him and
let him understand how this all works.
Speaker 3 (58:00):
Absolutely. I think the most inspiring thing for me to
see while I was waiting for my transplant was other
recipients who had made it out on the other side
and who were healthy and living full lives. So we
can definitely attest to the journey to transplant life after transplant.
(58:22):
If anyone you know has any concerns or any questions
about the process or is going through something and needs
invite or help, please freak out to me, you know,
at my email, Elle Shields at live on and why
dot org.
Speaker 1 (58:40):
Lauren, thank you so very much, Gene, thank you very
very much. And as I said to you earlier, I'm
going to repeat it. You guys are in my prayers
for this Christmas as well as your donor families or
in my prayers at this Christmas.
Speaker 4 (58:51):
So Lauren and Mom, God bless you both for what
you're doing. And have a merry Christmas. So all you,
you and all your loved ones, and we hope to
talk to you real soon.
Speaker 3 (59:00):
Thank you so much.
Speaker 5 (59:00):
All right, Merry Christmas.
Speaker 1 (59:02):
Guys, you bet bye bye. Now you can listen to
Hudson Valley This Morning with Ed Kuwalski Monday through Friday
six am to nine am on News Talk Radio fourteen
fifty thirteen seventy AM and ninety eight five FM WKIP