The city of Midland proclaimed Aug. 24 as Daniel Kirwan Day in hopes of bringing attention to important topics surrounding organ donation and transplant.
The city posted a statement on its Facebook page.
"Today, Councilman Jack Ladd presented a proclamation for Daniel Kirwan Day," the post read. "Daniel was a born and raised Midlander who suffered from kidney disease and passed away from renal failure in 2015 after being denied a lifesaving organ transplant due to his disability. His family, along with State Representative Brooks Landgraf, fought to change this and officially name HB-119 Daniel’s Law. Both the Senate and the House voted unanimously in favor of the legislation. On May 18, 2021, Governor Abbott signed this bill into law.
"Daniel’s Law allows the disabled population to be eligible for an organ transplant and will be effective starting Sept. 1, 2021."
Kathleen Kirwan-Haynie, Daniel's sister, expressed hope in an interview with KOSA that this issue won't prevent anyone from getting a transplant in the future.
“I don’t want other families with special needs loved ones suffering and I certainly don’t want our special needs their quality of life reduced and my brother passed away,” she said
Councilman Jack Ladd also spoke to KOSA.
“Kathleen and her family did Midland and the state of Texas a great service by getting Daniel’s Law passed and I hope it sets an example for other states and the rest of the country that our special needs citizens are just as much citizens and need our care just as much as anybody else,” he said.
Texas representatives gave bipartisan support to the bill earlier this year, with both Republican and Democratic co-sponsors.