Lauren Shields changed New York law before she was a teen. She spent innumerable hours working to increase awareness about the need for organ and tissue donation, freely sharing her own story that included a heart transplant as a child; a kidney transplant, donated by her mother; and an ongoing search for another kidney, making public appearances as she struggled with her health.
At age 8, the Stony Point girl had fallen ill and was found to need a heart transplant. She received that heart transplant at age 9.
Shields died Friday, June 25, at age 26.
Her short years belied her many accomplishments. As her mother, Jeanne Shields, shared the news of Lauren’s death, appreciations for the young woman’s good works poured in from those in Rockland County and beyond who had been inspired by Lauren Shields’ dedication to increasing the chances of others who could benefit from organ donation.
In the summer of 2020, Lauren Shields had undergone a kidney transplant, with Jeanne Shields as her donor.
Even as Shields had announced in 2025 she was in need of another kidney transplant and had launched a search for a match, she made clear that the work she did to raise awareness went well beyond her own needs.
“I feel like I’ve been so lucky to already have received a heart and a kidney,” Shields said in an August 2025 interview with lohud.com, wiping away a tear. “Thousands of people are also waiting. They also deserve a chance.”
A little girl changes the law
Lauren and her family’s journey underscored a problem New York faced: the state had among the lowest level of registered organ donors.
State Sen. David Carlucci had the bill that wasn’t getting traction to help change donor signup laws to address the problem.
Lauren Shields jumped in to lobbying for the legislation, speaking at Rotary Clubs and other organizations to garner support. She was so small, she often used a step stool to be seen behind the lectern.
Then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed Lauren’s Law on Oct. 3, 2012. She was 12 years old.
New York’s Lauren’s Law requires anyone applying for or renewing a driver’s license or non-driver ID card to answer a question about joining the organ and tissue donor registry on the Department of Motor Vehicles application. The question had been optional so easily skipped. The change had the impact Lauren and supporters envisioned and has boosted registry numbers.
A gift that continues on
Lauren Shields was born on April 13, 2000.
A graduate of North Rockland High School and Dominican University, Lauren Shields worked for LiveOnNY.
Survivors include her mother, Jeanne Shields; father, David Shields; brother, Brandon Shields; sister-in-law, Stephanie Shields; nephew, Stephen Shields and grandmother, Mary Varieur, and extended family members.
Shields’ advocacy helped encourage many to sign up as organ and tissue donors, work that impacted the lives of many New Yorkers and beyond.
She continued that leadership and generosity as a registered tissue donor, according to her family.
Funeral services for Lauren Shields
Visitation will be held 1-7 p.m. Wednesday, July 1, and Thursday, July 2 at Michael J. Higgins Funeral Home, 321 South Main St., New City.
A Funeral Mass celebrating Lauren’s life will be held at 10 a.m. Friday at St. Augustine’s Church, New City.
The family asks people to honor Lauren Shields by registering as an organ or tissue donor or making a donation in Lauren’s memory to LiveonNY, liveonny.org, the organ procurement organization that supports and educates transplant donors and recipients.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Lauren Shields, who changed NY organ transplant laws, dies at 26
Reporting by Nancy Cutler, Rockland/Westchester Journal News / Rockland/Westchester Journal News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Nancy Cutler, Rockland/Westchester Journal News | USA TODAY Network
