Richardson’s divorced parents went to court over her care. In January 2008, Richardson’s father, Randy Richardson, contacted ADF after the Delaware Chancery Court made a preliminary recommendation in the case, In re: Lauren Richardson, to give the mother sole guardianship to remove their daughter’s feeding tube. ADF attorneys asked for a new trial and further medical evaluations to show that Lauren Richardson was responsive, that new science undermines the PVS category, an d that insufficient evidence existed to demonstrate that Lauren Richardson wanted to stop her own nutrition.
Though it had been alleged that Lauren Richardson once said years earlier that she wouldn’t want to be kept alive if there was “no hope,” her mother’s Christian faith and updates from Randy Richardson’s Web site caused her to feel convicted that her daughter’s life had value and should be preserved. The Web site described Lauren’s responsiveness to pain, music, family members’ voices, touch, and assisted exercise. The site also expressed regret that Lauren Richardson’s daughter might never see her own mother. A reconciliation between the parents ensued in September 2008.
The parents agreed to settle the case, to share joint guardianship of their daughter, and to cooperate in caring for her at Randy Richardson’s Maryland home. Lauren Richardson wept emotionally when her mother informed her of the settlement and the reconciliation of her parents, confirming to the mother that her daughter was aware and responsive. Both parents and their families continue to interact with her daily.
ADF is a legal alliance of Christian attorneys and like-minded organizations defending the right of people to freely live out their faith. Launched in 1994, ADF employs a unique combination of strategy, training, funding, and litigation to protect and preserve religious liberty, the sanctity of life, marriage, and the family.
UPDATE October 31, 2008:
Lauren’s family would like to share with you the happy news that a path of healing and restoration is now in place for Lauren.
Lauren’s situation up until now has been a court issue, but this decision has been reached as a family, united in prayer and faith.
Lauren’s family will work together to love and care for Lauren and her child, giving God the glory for placing them in our lives. God’s presence has been evident in Lauren’s situation from the time of her initial injury and we give thanks and feel that God has a purpose for what has taken place.
We thank those who have expressed concern for Lauren and have prayed for her. You will never know how much your faith and love have meant to Lauren and to us as her family. We would also ask you to continue praying for Lauren. It is our prayer that God will heal Lauren and make her a witness for Him.
We feel that Lauren’s story, in a sense, is just beginning. We will continue to share updates with you concerning Lauren’s progress.
Love and Blessings,
Lauren’s family
Lauren’s family
UPDATE June 27, 2008:
Thanks to all of you for prayers. Lauren’s case is still ongoing and no decision has been made yet by the trial judge. Lauren herself has had some minor ups and downs but is doing pretty well. We are visiting her, interacting with her, and enjoying her life every day. Some of the items on schedule in the court case in May and June occurred while others did not. We do not know what the upcoming schedule will be exactly, but at least some court-related activities will occur in July.
All of this means that Lauren’s case is still hanging in the balance for a decision about whether she will be allowed to receive care and assistance from her loving family or whether she will starve and dehydrate simply because she has a disability. Please continue to pray for Lauren and everyone involved in this case.
Thanks to all of you for prayers. Lauren’s case is still ongoing and no decision has been made yet by the trial judge. Lauren herself has had some minor ups and downs but is doing pretty well. We are visiting her, interacting with her, and enjoying her life every day. Some of the items on schedule in the court case in May and June occurred while others did not. We do not know what the upcoming schedule will be exactly, but at least some court-related activities will occur in July.
All of this means that Lauren’s case is still hanging in the balance for a decision about whether she will be allowed to receive care and assistance from her loving family or whether she will starve and dehydrate simply because she has a disability. Please continue to pray for Lauren and everyone involved in this case.
Update from the Richardsons
April 15, 2008:
April 15, 2008:
First, we want to thank you all for your continued concern and prayers for Lauren. Your support means so much to us. The issue in Lauren’s case is the eternal truth that all people, no matter what their medical condition, bear the image of God and deserve basic care and an opportunity to be restored to health.
· Randy has visited several local organizations that help rehabilitate people just like Lauren. The love and patience he witnessed at these facilities gave him even greater hope for Lauren. Many of the people receiving treatment in such locations were suffering from even more severe handicaps than Lauren, and needed more care than Lauren. Yet they were receiving the love and attention they so needed. This is what Lauren should have and deserves.
· Lauren was claimed to be in a Persistent Vegetative State (PVS) in the initial stages after her accident. Since that time she has been thoroughly examined by another physician who believes that Lauren is showing signs of consciousness, which is inconsistent with a PVS diagnosis. This doctor stated that Lauren might benefit from therapy and further evaluation of her possibilities.
· We are convinced that Lauren would want to live, improve, and enjoy a relationship with her daughter.
Our Position: Hope
Lauren is not in a terminal condition, and she is not dependent upon medical machines. She is quite alive, and like you and me, needs food and water to live. Many persons in Lauren’s condition have made remarkable recoveries and we hold out hope because we know nothing is impossible for God. We cannot understand a position of non-hope. We believe that faith leads to hope and that we are to seek to do all that we can to help people who are disabled.
Even if Lauren never fully recovers, because of faith we believe that life with a disability is still valuable and God has a purpose in our suffering. The most fragile and dependent among us serve a great purpose; they teach us what is really important in this life. We believe that God has a purpose for every one of us while we live, no matter what our medical condition. Lauren’s story is a call to hope. We must come back from the terrible path of hopelessness which has no other answer than to impose death in the face of suffering.
What You Can Do:
We would ask you to pray for Lauren’s healing and for God to protect her.
Thank you again for your continued concern, prayers and support. We still have the hope that Lauren’s story will have a happy ending.
Update/Press Release November 19, 2008:
Delaware woman’s parents now in agreement:
their daughter must live
ADF attorneys representing father reach settlement with mother,
who now agrees that 24-year-old disabled daughter should live
WILMINGTON, Del. — Alliance Defense Fund attorneys have reached a favorable settlement in a lawsuit that had pitted father against mother over the life of their 24-year-old daughter who suffers from severe brain injury. Because of relig ious conviction and heartfelt interaction with her ex-husband’s family, the mother of Lauren Richardson decided to join cooperatively with Richardson’s father to care for their daughter and to drop her court request to remove Richardson’s feeding tube and water.
“Everyone deserves a chance to recover. Life should be protected—not destroyed,” said ADF Legal Counsel Matt Bowman. “This change of heart and settlement has profoundly affected everyone involved. The miracle of life is not something that should be taken lightly.”
In August 2006, while Richardson was pregnant, she suffered severe brain injury. Doctors later declared her to be in a persistent vegetative state. Despite medical difficulties, she survived and delivered a healthy baby girl in February 2007. She then stabilized into a healthy condition except for some mild medications and her brain injury, which limited her mobility and responsiveness and led to her being fed through a tube.
