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Home › Articles › Teen of the Month › Lacey Wood

Lacey Wood

Teen of the Month

By Kelly Burgess


Each month, iParenting.com spotlights a teen who inspires and moves us, who embodies the qualities that we all admire in a person, a friend, and a son or a daughter. Above all, the Teen of the Month is dedicated to making a positive mark on the planet. Rich or poor, famous or not, the Teen of the Month shines as an example of what today's teens have to offer.

July 2003's Teen of the Month is high school senior, Lacey Wood, who knows how precious life is.

She started calling herself "Lucky" Lacey when she was just 6 years old. Even at that age, Lacey Wood was conscious of how close she had come to not living long enough to pick a nickname. She was also already trying to give other kids the same chance at life that she had been given.

When Lacey was born she was the first girl in a long line of boys, including her older brother, Tyson. Best of all, according to her mother, Colleen, she was healthy. Colleen had been worried about that because a friend of hers had a child with medical problems. Their family was perfect.

Then, when she was just 10 months old, Lacey caught a virus that attacked her heart. It was so badly damaged that her only chance to live was a heart transplant. She was put on the UNOS waiting list, and her parents, while praying for a chance for their beloved daughter, also tried to deal with the anguish of knowing that the only way Lacey could live would be for another child to die.

"After 12 years we still think of our donor and his family often," says Colleen Wood. "We don't know much about him except his name was James, and he was 22 months old in October of 1990. We figured his birthday was sometime in December, so to remember, celebrate and honor him, every Christmas we pick out a special angel ornament and put it on our tree."

The family also remembers James on Mother's Day, Lacey's birthday, the anniversary of the transplant and other special days. This continuing respect for the great gift that James's family gave them has had a profound effect on Lacey.

Speaking Up

"Ever since I can remember, I have been speaking to people about organ donation," says 14-year-old Lacey. "From small groups of people to thousands at pre-game shows at major league ball parks, I have shared my story of hope for the future. I am very grateful to my donor and his family, and it is important to me to honor him by making my life count. I love to share my story with others to teach them what it can mean to be an organ donor because I am living proof that transplants work."

For the past several years, Lacey has been taking her activism a step further by speaking at the California State Capital with Senator Jackie Speier in support of a bill that would establish a donor registry in California. The bill was passed, but Lacey learned that didn't automatically assure that the registry would be in place without a lot more work.

"This whole process has taught me a lot about how a law is made," she says. "Last year it became a law, but there was no real way to fund it. We have now figured out a way to get it going, and we hope to see it up and running next year."

Speaking Out

Lacey doesn't spend all her time with boring legislative matters. She's student body president, plays drums in the school band and is on both the volleyball and basketball teams. She even plays volleyball on a community league. Her latest passion is snowboarding, and she had managed to merge it with her other passion – organ donation awareness – in a way that would be the envy of any teen.

"Earlier this year I spent time in Europe where I shared my story with people from all over the world," says Lacey. "First I went to a ski and snowboard camp in Switzerland for kids who have had transplants. Then I went to Italy to represent the United States and compete in the Nicholas Cup. This is a ski race for kids from all over the world who have had transplants. It is called the Nicholas Cup in memory of a 7-year-old American boy named Nicholas Green who was an organ donor after being killed in Italy while on a family vacation there. It was an experience of a lifetime, and I will never forget all the friends I made from all over the world!"

Lacey says she's looking forward to seeing many of those friends again in July at the World Transplant Games in France. She'll compete in track, volleyball, swimming and kayaking.

She jokingly calls it a "high maintenance life," but she's acutely aware that it's a life she's lucky to have.

"If I had any advice to give other kids who are faced with a difficult situation, it would be never give up on yourself, your life and the possibility of your dreams," she says. "Everyone has to face things they are not sure they can handle but with faith and a positive attitude you will surprise yourself. Nobody knows what tomorrow will bring but thinking positive can be very powerful. There is always hope because EVERY day miracles happen. I am living proof."



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