Bill Text: NY J00443 | 2023-2024 | General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Honoring heart transplant recipient Roxanne Watson for her ceaseless dedication as a champion and advocate for organ donation in conjunction with the observance of Women's Heart Day on February 3, 2023

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 42-21)

Status: (Passed) 2023-02-14 - ADOPTED [J00443 Detail]

Download: New_York-2023-J00443-Introduced.html

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Senate Resolution No. 443

BY: Senator WEBER

        HONORING heart transplant recipient Roxanne Watson
        for  her  ceaseless  dedication  as  a  champion and
        advocate for organ donation upon the occasion of her
        13,000th name being  added  to  the  National  Organ
        Donor  Registry,  in conjunction with the observance
        of Women's  Heart  Day  on  February  3,  2023,  and
        American Heart Month in February 2023

  WHEREAS,  The  unity  of  our  State  and  Nation  is built upon the
compassion of individuals such as Roxanne Watson who uphold  the  values
of  community  life  and who, through their great actions, epitomize the
best of humanity; and

  WHEREAS, This Legislative  Body  is  justly  proud  to  honor  heart
transplant  recipient  Roxanne  Watson for her ceaseless dedication as a
champion and advocate for  organ  donation  upon  the  occasion  of  her
13,000th  name  being  added  to  the  National Organ Donor Registry, in
conjunction with the observance of Women's  Heart  Day  on  February  3,
2023, and American Heart Month in February 2023; and

  WHEREAS,  Since  receiving  a  new heart in 2010, Roxanne Watson has
been on a mission to educate people about the life-saving value of organ
donation; and

  WHEREAS, Through her tireless work with New York's Campaign  4  Life
and  Donate  Life  NY,  Roxanne  Watson  has personally signed up 13,000
potential donors, which is believed to be a world record; and

  WHEREAS, Roxanne Watson's efforts have led Rockland  County  to  the
top  position  in the state for the number of organ donor sign-ups; this
extraordinarily selfless woman was also selected as one of  six  winners
among   more   than   3,500   entries  in  a  worldwide  competition  on
life-changing goals for her efforts  to  create  a  global  organ  donor
foundation; and

  WHEREAS,  In  2006, Roxanne Watson, then 51, suffered a heart attack
and was told she would need a transplant; her lifesaving operation  took
place   July   16,  2010,  at  Montefiore  Medical  Center;  her  donor,
23-year-old Michael  Bovill,  was  a  Coast  Guard  serviceman  who  was
returning to base on his motorcycle when he was struck by a truck on the
George Washington Bridge on July 11, 2010; and

  WHEREAS, Michael Bovill, a true American hero who served his country
proudly  and  saved  five  lives, continues to serve as Roxanne Watson's
inspiration; she is steadfast in her determination to encourage as  many
people as possible to sign a donor card, especially minority populations
who statistically need the most organs; and

  WHEREAS,  In 2016, Roxanne Watson won a Folio: Eddie Award for,"What
a Silent Heart Attack Sounds Like," an article published in the American
Heart Association's Heart Insight magazine; the following year  she  was
featured   in   a  national  television  advertising  campaign  and  the
home-improvement show, "George to the Rescue"; and


  WHEREAS, Furthermore, in 2018, she was honored by the New York State
Senate as the Woman of Distinction; and

  WHEREAS,  A  resident  of Nanuet, New York, Roxanne Watson earned an
Associate of Arts degree in Liberal Arts: Humanities and Social Sciences
in 1987, and  a  Bachelor  of  Arts  degree  in  History  from  Columbia
University in 1989; and

  WHEREAS,  Rare  indeed  is  the  impressive  dedication  shown by an
individual for the benefit of others which Roxanne Watson has  displayed
throughout her life; and

  WHEREAS,  It  is  the  custom  of  this Legislative Body to pay just
homage to a woman of  indomitable  faith  and  dedication  whose  public
service  and  countless accomplishments will forever stand as a paradigm
and inspiration for others; now, therefore, be it

  RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its  deliberations  to
honor  heart  transplant  recipient  Roxanne  Watson  for  her ceaseless
dedication as a champion  and  advocate  for  organ  donation  upon  the
occasion  of  her  13,000th name being added to the National Organ Donor
Registry; and be it further

  RESOLVED, That a copy of this  Resolution,  suitably  engrossed,  be
transmitted to Roxanne Watson.