Transplant recipient Lauren Rowe hits back after rude note left on car parked in disabled space

A YOUNG woman has hit back after being faced with an anonymous note on the car she was in, berating her for parking in a disabled spot.

A YOUNG Sydney lung transplant recipient has taken to Facebook to hit back at a woman who left an anonymous note on the car she was in berating her for parking in a disabled spot.

Lauren Rowe, 26, suffers from cystic fibrosis, diabetes and osteoporosis and as a teenager underwent a double lung transplant - putting her well and truly in the category of people allowed to use such parking spaces.

While the transplant saved her life and initially increased her lung capacity to 60%, her body soon began to reject the organs and Lauren now battle with just 30% capacity making regular activities exponentially more difficult.

The note left on Lauren’s car which was parked in a disabled space at Macarthur Square this week.

This hasn’t stopped her being a vocal campaigner for cystic fibrosis sufferers and working tirelessly to make life better for those who have been struck down with the chronic illness.

Despite having a disability sticker clearly visible on her car when she parked in Macarthur Square this week, the unidentified woman penned a note and left it on Lauren’s windscreen.

“To the 2 young women who parked here and walked off - your lack of consideration is acknowledged. Well done,” the note read.

“Unfortunately, this is not the first judgment made against me from using a disabled sticker,” Lauren wrote in a post on her Facebook page that has been liked more than 2000 times and drawn outrage from hundreds of commenters.

“I have it for the days I struggle to breathe as I have cystic fibrosis and had a double lung transplant, diabetes and osteoporosis. My donated lungs began to reject last year and although my lung capacity is just below 30% the donated lungs where (sic) too big for my body so squash at the base making it extremely uncomfortable and at times impossible to breathe.”

Lauren Rowe received a double lung transplant when she was 19.

Lauren said she had spied the woman while at the shopping centre with a friend to see a movie, but wasn’t about to ruin her rare night out explaining herself.

However, she called on the author of the note to be a little more gutsy next time and approach someone she has an issue with instead of resorting to secretly writing a note.

“I did see you death stare me as I walked from the car to the lift with my friend and looked the other way because tonight was the first night I have been out in a long time and was excited to go to the movies with my friends without thinking about the darkness of my reality,” she wrote.

“Next time you see me or someone parked in a disabled spot with a visible sticker perhaps you can enquire face to face about your doubts so they have a chance to educate you and not leave an anonymous note.”

Lauren, who has appeared on The Project and also runs a popular YouTube channel that helps bring a bit of comic relief to transplant recipients and cystic fibrosis sufferers, received overwhelming support after her post, with many having suffered similar experiences.

“This happens to me everyday, I just walk off ignoring them and it frustrates them even more. Chronic illness life!” Victoria Teresa wrote.

“How hurtful for you to receive this Lauren . You are an amazing Young lady and we are all proud of you,” said Camilla Jenal.

“Not every disability is outwardly visible. People shouldn’t judge on what they don’t know unless they have walked in someone else’s shoes,” Debbie Baratta wrote.