Publication: American Press;Date: Apr 1, 2012;Section: Life;Page: 21

Sweet16 Kinderteensharesgiftofcompassionwithburnvictims
ByAshleyWithersawithers@americanpress.com

LaurynAlyseMcGee,athen15yearoldfromKinder,hadnoideawhatanincrediblejourneyaFacebookstatuscouldtakeheron. Earlierthisyear,sheposted:Thisyearformy16thbirthdayIwantonethingandonethingonly!IwanttogobacktoShrinersandmeetkidswhohavebeen inaccidentslikemineorsimilar!IfeellikeIneedtoshowkidsthattheyarenottheonlyoneswhohavebeeninthisposition!Sofamily,formybirthdaygetmea triptoShrinersandahotelfortheweekendandIwillbethehappiest16yearoldEVER! WhenLaurynwasaboutayearold,theentirerightsideofherbodywasburned.Hermomwasboilingspaghettinoodles,butasshewenttopourthewaterout, thesteamhitherintheface.ShedroppedthepotwhileLaurynwasholdingontoherleg. Itcamedownallovertherightsideofmyfaceandbody,Laurynsaid.TheyfirstbroughtmetoMemorialinLakeCharles,buttheytoldthemthatIhadtogo toShrinersinGalveston. LaurynwastreatedatShrinersBurnHospitalforChildreninGalvestonforaweek.Herskinwaswrapped,andshewasgivenspongebathstomakesurethe newlayersofskinwerehealingproperly. Herparentswereputupinahotelbythehospitalforfree.Herdad,BrianMcGee,saidthatShrinersmadeitsothathisdaughtershealthwastheonlything theyhadtoworryabout. Shehealedupamazingly.Theonlyscarnowisonhershoulder,saidBrian. NowLaurynisanormalsophomoreatPinePrairieHighSchool,amemberofthedanceteamandsecretaryofthedramaclub.Sheandherfamilyarevery close.Evenafterherparentsdivorced,theyremainedfriendlyandmadesureLaurynhadthebesthomelifepossible.BothparentsremarriedandLaurynhas severalstepsiblingsthatshesaysaresomeofherbestfriends. Myfamilyismylife,Laurynsaid.Mybrotheris12yearsold,andIstillwanthimtohavesleepoverswithme. Buttwoyearsago,Laurynsfamilywasshakenbythedeathofher18yearoldstepbrother,JordanAucoin. ImethimwhenIwas4yearsold,Laurynsaid.Iwasraisedthatheismybrother,andaslongasIcanremember,hewasalwaysthereforme. Uponhisdeath,Aucoindonatedallofhisorgansandtissues. Iwassittingherethinkingabouthowhechangedpeopleslives.Thedaybefore,wehadgottenaletterfromoneofthepeoplewhogothisorgans,andshe saidhechangedherlife,Laurynsaid.ItreallymademethinkthatIreallywantedtochangeandhaveabigimpactonpeopleslives. Laurynsaidthat,rightaftershemadethepromisetochange,shesawaShrinersHospitalcommercialontelevision,andshethoughtthatitwouldbethe perfectplacetostart.ShepostedherbirthdaywishonFacebookwithoutknowingwhatanopportunityitwouldbecome. Laurynsgrandmother,CherylBebe,worksforScottOPry,alocalfinancialadvisor,andnoticedaShrinersstickeronhiswindowoneday. ShetoldhergranddaughtersstorytohimandheimmediatelydecidedthattheDeQuincyShrineClubwouldhelpmakeLaurynsdreamcometrue. ItchokedmeupabitandIhadtoaskifitwasforreal,OPrysaid.Idecidedtoactasthefacilitator. OPryandLaurynsfamilysetasurprisebirthdaypartyattheFebruaryDeQuincyShrineClubmeeting.Laurynsaidshedidnthaveacluewhatwasgoingon. Igotinthecarandmymomsaid,Yourenotgoingtodancetoday,andIwaslike,Oh,myGod,Imustbeintrouble.Shesaidthatmygrandparentswanted totakemetoanicedinnerthatnight,Laurynsaid.WepulleduptothisbuildingandIsawalltheseShrinersstickers,butIstilldidntknow.Iwasreally confusedandthenmyFacebookstatuspoppeduponthescreen.TheyaskedmetocomeonstageandtellhowIgotburned. Laurynaddedthatshehadtohavehergrandmothercomeupandhelphergetthroughit. Shehad150peopleintearsasshetoldherstory,OPrysaid.Wepresentedherwithatwonight,tworoomstayattheTremontHouse,atravelexpense check,andwesetupatourandvisittothehospital. Ididntevenknowwhattosay.Icriedlikeabigbaby,Laurynsaid. Lauryndecidedtousehertravelexpensechecktobuytoysandactivitybooksforthepatientsatthehospital.Sheinvitedherentirefamilyandseveralfriends tojoinherforherspecialbirthday. Fora16yearoldgirltowanttogobacktoShrinersandgivethanksandbeaninspirationtothepatients,itrechargedour[theShrineClubs]batteries,OPry said.Shekeepsthankingus,butreallywerethankingher. LaurynvisitedthehospitalonMarch3with33membersofherfamilyandfriends.FifteenmembersoftheDeQuincyShrineClubalsoaccompaniedher.She

touredthefacility,andtheShrinersthrewherasurprise16thbirthdayparty.Shealsogottomeetthedoctorandnursethatworkedonherwhenshewasa patient. Itwasanawesomeexperience.Igottomeetkidsinsimilarsituationsasme.Ijustreallywantedtotellthemthattheyrenotaloneinit,McGeesaid.My doctorandnursestillrememberedme.Itreallytouchedmeandmeantalot.

SpecialtotheAmericanPressThroughaFacebookpost,LaurynMcGeerevealedherwishtoreturntoShrinersBurnHospitalforher16thbirthday.

SpecialtotheAmericanPressLaurynMcGeeisintroducedtoyoungpatientsatShrinersBurnHospitalforChildrenduringaMarchvisit.Whenaninfant,McGee

receivedaweekoftreatmentatthehospital.

SpecialtotheAmericanPressNurseDoraFloresholdsyearoldburnvictimLaurynMcGeeatShrinersBurnHospitalforChildreninGalveston15yearsago.

SpecialtotheAmericanPressLaurynMcGeeisreunitedwithDoraFloresduringavisittoShrinersBurnHospitalforChildreninGalvestonduringavisiton March3.