Washington, D.C. (21 November 2008) – Lauren Richardson will be allowed to live. The 24-year-old disabled Delaware woman gained national attention last year in a case remarkably similar to Terri Schiavo's.
"We've been watching this case since the start and praying for Lauren daily," said Jim Sedlak, vice president of American Life League. "Thank God, Lauren's parents decided to work together to spare her life. But there are thousands of people out there at the mercy of others' goodwill – people just like you and I who only need food and water to survive. When will they be protected and their lives valued?"
Richardson overdosed on heroin in August 2006 when she was three months pregnant. She gave birth to her daughter, Ember Grace in February 2007.
Since then Richardson's father, Randy Richardson, has be engaged in a drawn-out court battle with her mother, Edith Powers, over whether to keep Lauren fed and hydrated.
With the help of Alliance Defense Fund allied attorneys, Richardson's parents have reached an agreement and Lauren will not only be allowed to live, she'll be able to go home with her father.
"This resolution does exactly what we wanted all along," Randy Richardson told the Delaware News Journal. "It gives Lauren a chance. We get to take care of her and give her the opportunity to heal."
"While we are so thankful Lauren's life was spared, we will continue to work so that this never happens again – no ones deserves to die because they are disabled," Sedlak said.
American Life League was cofounded in 1979 by Judie Brown. It is the largest grassroots Catholic pro-life organization in the United States and is committed to the protection of all innocent human beings from the moment of creation to death. For more information or press inquiries, please contact Katie Walker at 540.659.4942.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
- Life for Lauren
http://www.lifeforlauren.org/
- The News Journal: Parents Drop Suit, Will Take Care of Brain Damaged Woman (21 November 2008) http://www.delawareonline.com/article/20081121/NEWS01/811210348
- Hometown Annapolis: Couple Reconciles Over Care of Bedridden Daughter (20 November 2008) http://www.hometownannapolis.com/cgi-bin/read/2008/11_20-09/REG
