JOHN UNDERWOOD / STAFF PHOTO
By John Underwood/john@gulfcoastmedia.com
ROBERTSDALE, Alabama In July, a law will go into effect requiring medical examiners, through the appropriate law enforcement agency, to notify next of kin when keeping a person’s organs for purposes other than conducting a death investigation.
For Foley native and Robertsdale resident Donna Crooks Atkins, the law, recently signed by Gov. Kay Ivey, is a small victory in a well over decade-long fight sparked by her son Justin’s death at the age of 17.
“I never realized passing a law would be so amazing,” Atkins said. “I didn’t realize that I would have to fight every step of the way.”