Levittown Family Participates in Annual Walk in Daughter’s Memory

The Katz family of Levittown honors the memory of their daughter Lauren each year at the Walk for St. Mary’s Kids, and this Sunday they will continue the tradition.

St. Mary’s Healthcare System for Children is a national leader in post-acute care for children with special needs and life-limiting conditions. Lauren passed away in 2002 from autosomal recessive microcephaly, a neurodevelopmental disorder.

Lauren received highly specialized care at St. Mary’s until her death, but that did not end the family’s relationship with the hospital. Lauren’s little sister Jennifer recently donated $200 of her Bat Mitzvah gifts to the hospital in Lauren’s memory.

 “Hundreds of children like Lauren live there and receive services,” she said. “As I mentioned earlier, with age comes responsibility, so I have decided to donate a portion of my Bat Mitzvah gifts to St. Mary’s in Lauren’s memory.”

St. Mary's said they were very grateful for the donation and for the family's involvement. 

“The Katz family’s ongoing involvement with St. Mary’s Healthcare System for Children helps to ensure that future generations of children with special needs and medically complex conditions will receive the care they need,” St. Mary’s said in a press release. 

Mother Michelle  said she has made a promise to Lauren and her family that the relationship with St. Mary’s Hospital for Children will always continue.

“It will always be a part of our lives,” she said. “In Lauren’s memory, we participate in St. Mary’s Walk every year, to keep giving back what they gave to me, my family, and to Lauren, and to make people aware of the enormous gift of life St. Mary’s gives to so many families and to other children, just like my daughter. I named our team “Lauren’s Moment.”  

The Walk for St. Mary’s Kids will be held on Sunday, May 19, 2013 at Belmont Park in Elmont.  If you would like to make a donation to Lauren’s Moment, visit http://events.stmaryskids.org/goto/laurensmoment.

For information on the Walk for St. Mary’s Kids visit http://events.stmaryskids.org/walk2013 or call 718-281-8890.