By Nicole Falco
Born in August 1998, Lauren was diagnosed two months later with microcephaly, a rare, neurological brain disorder that affects the growth of the brain. Microcephaly may be genetic, as in Lauren's case, or can develop before a child's second birthday. Lauren never progressed beyond an infant.
Despite her extreme disabilities, Lauren was a child who knew great love and in her own way gave equal love back to those who loved her. Lauren died in her mother's arms just after midnight on May 5.
"When she was born we just knew something wasn't right. Even though it was my first child we just knew," said Michelle Katz, Lauren's mom. "Lauren never really focused on anything. She never really sucked on a bottle. At nine weeks old she started having seizures."
Michelle and her husband, Saul, Gibson residents, took Lauren for an evaluation. Lauren was put through a barrage of tests including a spinal tap and numerous blood scans.
"The doctor told us [Lauren] would never walk or talk or be functional. You hear that and you go into denial. How could people say this? I hated the doctor. He was wrong. [Lauren] was doing little things," Katz said.
But by December 1998 Lauren was experiencing daily seizures and needed to be hospitalized. In February 1999, the family decided Lauren, who needed 24-hour medical attention, would be better served at St. Mary's than at home.
Michelle was at St. Mary's every day until the birth of her second daughter, Jennifer, now 2-years-old. After Jennifer's birth, Michelle still went regularly, but her parents, Raymond and Corinne Boni, Woodmere residents, began going more often to help Michelle out. Michelle's father, who is retired, soon began going every day.
"When I say my dad was with her 365 days, I mean every day. [Lauren] was used to having somebody with her every day," Michelle said.
The decision to have another child after Lauren was a difficult one. There was still a risk that Michelle and Saul could have another child with microcephaly, but then again, Michelle worried about things such as, "Who would be there for Lauren if anything ever happened to me or Saul?"
"I can't say I had a happy pregnancy [with Jennifer]. There was a lot of stress. I didn't know what was going to happen," Michelle said.
Michelle saw a "high-risk' pregnancy doctor and prayed. Jennifer was born healthy as was the Katz's third daughter, Melissa, 11 months.
Lauren never knew a "normal" life, but the life she did lead was the only one she knew. Lauren smiled most of the time and only cried when she was in pain.
Jennifer didn't know her older sister well and Melissa was still too young to know Lauren at all, but when they are old enough to understand, the two girls will meet their older sister Lauren through pictures, a scrapbook and their parents' and grandparents' memories.
"I'll tell them she was a fighter. Even though she was sick, she had a will to live," Michelle said. "I'll have them grow up not to be afraid of people who are different. Lauren was just a child who was really sick and we knew we had to love her even more.
"I want [my daughters] to appreciate everything. Many people don't realize what they have. They lead sheltered lives. I did growing up in Woodmere. People often don't see the other side or know there is a place like St. Mary's out there," Michelle said.
Lauren will be missed deeply by her parents, siblings, maternal grandparents, her paternal grandmother Helen Katz and all her aunts, uncles and cousins.
The entire family wishes to thank St. Mary's Hospital for Children in Bayside for taking such loving care of Lauren.
