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SPRING 2012 VOLUME 3
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ISSUE 1
A PUBLICATION OF NJ SHARING NETWORK
One More Day
A family honors a son and the five lives he saved
CELEBRATING 25 YEARS OF SAVING LIVES!
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WHO WE ARE NJ Sharing Network is a non-profit, federally-designated, organ procurement organization responsible for the recovery of organs and tissue for the nearly 5,000 New Jersey residents currently awaiting transplantation, and is part of the national recovery system, which is in place for the more than 110,000 people on waiting lists.
CONTACT INFORMATION BY MAIL: NJ Sharing Network 691 Central Avenue New Providence, NJ 07974 PHONE: 1-800-742-7365/908-516-5400 FAX: 908-516-5501
www.njsharingnetwork.org
BOARD OF TRUSTEES John J. Halperin, MD Chair
Bruce I. Goldstein, Esq. Vice Chair
Vito A. Pulito Treasurer
Marc H. Lory Secretary
Patrick M. Buddle, MD Margaret Dreker Edward J. Florio, Esq.
OUR MISSION FOR A QUARTER CENTURY: SAVE AS MANY LIVES AS POSSIBLE On June 1, 1987, three New Jersey organ procurement organizations merged into one, breathing life into what we know today as NJ Sharing Network. While many things have changed and evolved during the past 25 years of our existence, many things have not. We work diligently each and every day to save as many lives as possible through organ and tissue donation. We work to educate the general public about the life-saving benefits of organ and tissue donation. We work to increase the number of registered organ donors in New Jersey so that they may be able to give someone else the gift of life. In this issue of NJ Sharing Network’s Circle of Life magazine, you will learn more about the incredible lives saved and forever changed as a result of all our hard work over the past 25 years. Learn about a teenage heart recipient who is now planning to attend college and use his degree to further serve the organ and tissue donation arena (see page 5), as well as a young girl who is now celebrating her second anniversary as a kidney recipient due to the generosity of a non-related living donor (see page 7). You’ll read about a teenage organ donor and the five lives he saved, honored at this year’s Tournament of Roses Parade (see page 8). You’ll also see how the job of transplant coordinator has evolved – yet stayed the same – over the past quarter of a century (see page 12). Much of the work we do cannot happen without our volunteers or funds raised by NJ Sharing Network Foundation. Learn about two women who have volunteered for NJ Sharing Network since its inception and how things have changed positively over the past 25 years (see page 29). Learn more about 25 ways you can help us meet our overall goals and mission (see page 28). Finally, learn more about how the Foundation works to raise funds to help us meet our overall mission of saving lives (see page 16). We’ve made great strides over the past 25 years in bringing awareness to organ and tissue donation but of course there is more work to be done. Here’s to another great 25 years where hopefully each and every day ends with people on the transplant waiting list receiving the greatest gift of all: life.
Aline M. Holmes, RN Anthony L. Marchetta Howard A. Nelson Richard G. Popiel, MD
Joseph S. Roth President and Chief Executive Officer NJ Sharing Network
Timothy J. Touhey The Musculoskeletal Transplant Foundation presents NJ Sharing Network with a gift of artwork to commemorate our partnership of 25 years. This commissioned artwork, depicting an ethereal donor and recipient along with words of hope, signifies our mutual commitment to saving and enhancing lives. From left to right: Bruce Stroever, Mary Ellen McGlynn, Elisse Glennon, Lou Krefski, Joseph Roth, Martha Anderson, Mike Real and George Herrara.
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AUGUST 2010
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SHARING NEWS
ADVISORY BOARD Michael Shapiro, MD
Chair Transplant Surgeon Representative
Tools to Teach About Organ Donation At the annual New Jersey Education Association (NJEA) convention held in Atlantic City, NJ Sharing Network sponsored a booth at the convention that provided teachers with information about our High School Heroes program and how it can be implemented in the classroom. Designed to provide the tools necessary for teachers to present pertinent background information about organ donation, High School Heroes allows students to obtain information necessary to make an informed decision about becoming a potential organ donor upon turning
Loretta Aigner, RN
Transplant Center Administrator Representative
Gail Clegg
Organ and Tissue Donor Family Member Representative
Roseann DiBrienza, RN, MS Public Representative
Katherine Kennedy
Voluntary Health Organization Representative
Stuart R. Geffner, MD
Transplant Surgeon Representative
Michael Gould, MD
Emergency Room Personnel Representative
18. Our mascot, Ms. Pumps, and a prize wheel were on-hand making our booth one of the most popular.
Sara E. Jensen, Esq. Public Representative
David A. Laskow, MD
Transplant Surgeon Representative
Debra L. Morgan
Donate Life Month Celebrated in April Not only is April an annual month long observance that celebrates the lives saved by organ and tissue donation and the donors who have provided this selfless gift, but it is a month where an extra special drive is made to encourage people across the United States to register
as organ donors. This year – Friday, April 20 – was declared “National Blue and Green Day” where those with a connection to the organ donation movement were encouraged to rock the “blue” and “green” Donate Life colors in creative ways.
Transplant Center Administrator Representative
Shamkant Mulgaonkar, MD
Transplant Center Administrator Representative
Trish O’Keefe, RN
Hospital Administrator Representative
Ty J. Olson, MD
Neurosurgeon Representative
John S. Radomski, MD
Transplant Surgeon Representative
Prakash Rao, PhD, MBA, FACHE, HCLD
Human Histocompatibility Specialist Representative
Talk Show Supports Organ Donation
Lisa Durden, the host of her own cable news show, “The Lisa Durden Show,” has been working with NJ Sharing Network on several education outreach initiatives. On her weekly show, Lisa featured a panel of guests who have been touched by organ donation and transplantation including Elisse Glennon, executive director, NJ Sharing Network Foundation; E. Denise Peoples, a double lung recipient and a NJ Sharing Network volunteer; Dorian Wilson, MD, associate professor of clinical surgery, The University Hospital/ UMDNJ, and Alyssa D’Addio, a donor family
member and Education and Partnerships Coordinator at NJ Sharing Network. “The Lisa Durden Show,” which airs on Newark’s Cablevision Channel 19 on Tuesdays at 6 p.m., Newark’s Comcast Channel 27 on Tuesdays at 10:30 p.m. and Manhattan Neighborhood Network Channel 56 on Fridays at 5 p.m., reaches more than one million households. On April 9, Lisa held a tribute where people joined hands at the corner of 18th Avenue South and 18th Street in Newark to honor the memory of Zoe Jackson, a one-year old who lost her life in a car chase accident and gave the gift of life to three other young boys in New Jersey. Lisa also is planning on having her own team at the upcoming NJ Sharing 5K Walk/Run and is planning to offer makeovers for a soonto-be living donor and a transplant recipient. NJ Sharing Network applauds the work of Lisa Durden and her commitment to raising awareness about the importance of organ and tissue donation.
Bruce Stroever
Tissue Bank Representative
Harry Sun, MD
Transplant Surgeon Representative
Dorian J. Wilson, MD
Transplant Surgeon Representative
Mark J. Zucker, MD
Transplant Center Administrator Representative
EDITORIAL TEAM Mara Barlow
Assistant Director, Marketing and Communications NJ Sharing Network
Nell Ryan
Creative Services Coordinator NJ Sharing Network
CONTRIBUTORS: Erika Desimone
Designer/Creative Director Erika Desimone Design
Jennifer Brennan
Writer JCJ-Communications
Scott Weersing Cover photo
Dan Epstein
www.danepstein.com Photo, page 28 We sincerely regret any errors or omissions. www.njsharingnetwork.org Please contact editor@sharenj.org.
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SHARING NEWS
New Quilts Of Love
NJ State Troopers Join Legacy of Heroes At this year’s State Troopers Coalition awards dinner held in Garfield, NJ in October, Joseph Occhipiniti, founder and executive director of the National Police Defense Foundation, expressed his support of the work conducted by NJ Sharing Network through a special mention in his keynote address. Educational materials about organ donation also were distributed to all attendees of the event. NJ Sharing Network Foundation Executive Director Elisse Glennon is joined by Dorian Wilson, MD, Sgt. James Dobak, NJ State Police and NJ Sharing Network’s Jessica Melore.
Middle School Students Learn About Organ Transplantation More than 50 middle school students who are part of Project HealthLinks, a program run by Piscataway Township that introduces students to careers within a healthcare organization, gathered at NJ Sharing Network in December to learn about organ and tissue donation and transplantation. Students were able to learn about both sides of the organ donation story from both an organ transplant recipient and a family member of an organ donor. Jessica Melore, senior education and programs manager at NJ Sharing Network, relayed her per-
sonal experience as a heart transplant recipient while Jon Longo, a Donate Life Ambassador, discussed his experience as being part of a donor family.
Annual Donor Family Memorial Remembers True Heroes For nearly two decades, NJ Sharing Network hosts an annual ceremony that honors our donors – the true heroes of transplantation. At last year’s event, approximately 400 transplant recipients and donor family and friends convened at the Pine Manor in Edison for this moving tribute. Keynote speakers, Jessa Scott, a double lung recipient, and Roy Larsen, a donor father, shared their personal stories about how organ transplantation has affected their lives. Every donor family was honored with the Gift of Life Donor Medal, a handmade “Wrapped in Love” shawl and a memorial rose during the ceremony.
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The family of Pauline Thompson, holding her beautiful quilt square, were honored at last year’s Donor Family Memorial.
Fifteen years ago, NJ Sharing Network began Quilts of Love – an ongoing project that honors the memory of our donors. Each beautiful quilt square, handmade by the donor’s family and friends, pays a special tribute and honors the life of the donor. In 2011, two more beautiful quilts joined our collection, bringing our total to 25 quilts just in time for our 25th Anniversary.
A National Voice for New Jersey
Visit www.youtube.com/donatelifenj and search for Jessica Melore to learn more about her personal story as a heart transplant recipient.
Donate Life America, the national organization promoting organ, eye and tissue donation in the United States, has launched, “20 Million in 2012,” a bold initiative that focuses on radically increasing the number of people registered on state donor registries. The goal of the campaign is to register at least 20 million people across the United States as organ and tissue donors in 2012 alone. One part of the campaign is the “I am HOPE” storytelling project where people share their own personal stories and involvement in organ donation. NJ Sharing Network is proud that NJ was chosen as the first state to promote these stories of hope, with our own Jessica Melore, serving as a spokesperson.
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ABOVE AND BEYOND Teen Heart Recipient Stresses Importance of Organ Donation Joe DiSanto is wise beyond his 17 years. Practically ever since the day Joe became a heart transplant recipient in 2006 at the age of 12, his ultimate life goal has been to spread the word about the importance of organ and tissue donation. “People don’t think that something like this could happen to someone so young,” says Joe. “I’m living proof that organ donation works. I’m living life.” Since 2009, Joe has been an active volunteer for NJ Sharing Network, working in the office on his school breaks, addressing audiences as a keynote speaker at several fundraising and edu-
cational events, and running educational tables at local malls. He even uses his own Facebook page as a venue to spread the word about organ and tissue donation -- his profile picture features a photo of him with a sign reading “A Heart Transplant Saved My Life,” in front of The Today Show window. Joe’s future plans include attending college next year, where he will major in communications in hopes of applying the knowledge gained to the organ and tissue donation arena. With the volunteer work that Joe already has done and continues to do for NJ Sharing Network, it looks like he is off to a great start.
LET’S GET CLINICAL Inaugural Workshop Provides Donation Overview to Nurse Educators In early November, NJ Sharing Network held its first ever program called “An Educators Guide: Organ and Tissue Donation Process for Educators.” Attendees of this session were provided with a comprehensive overview of the state and federal regulations regarding nursing education about organ and tissue donation and transplantation. One major outcome of the seminar was that attendees learned how to ensure that their hospital complies with these important regulations.
Scientific Forum Highlights Neonatal Liver Disorders Medical professionals from all over the state gathered at NJ Sharing Network in early February for an educational program called, “Neonatal Liver Donation: Groundbreaking Research Practice.” Hosted by Cytonet, an international biotechnology company that focuses on innovative treatments for liver diseases, this session provided a comprehensive overview of neonatal liver donation.
Pump it Up! Meet our new mascot, Ms. Pumps. On Valentine’s Day, Ms. Pumps turned 25 years old, the same age as NJ Sharing Network! She likes to attract visitors to table displays and donor registry stations at hospitals, as she creates a buzz about organ donation. Next up, Ms. Pumps is training for the Share NJ 5K Walk/Run, so look out for her in June! www.njsharingnetwork.org
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life
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SOCIAL
Head of Donate Life America Visits NJ Sharing Network
This past January, NJ Sharing Network had the pleasure of welcoming David Fleming, president and chief executive officer of Donate Life America, to our headquarters to strategize with staff and board members about ways to increase the number of registered organ donors throughout New Jersey. Donate Life America, which brings together both national and state organizations from across the country, serves as a great resource for new and innovative ideas to help spread the word about organ and tissue donation.
NJ Sharing Network Hits the Local Airwaves
Joe Roth and E. Denise Peoples appear on “To Your Health” on News 12 New Jersey.
Donna Albanese, board chair, NJ Sharing Network Foundation with David Sickel, president and owner of Pine Belt Enterprises, and his son, Rob Sickel, VP of Pine Belt Enterprises.
WNYW-TV (FOX NY): Highlighted a segment about our Legacy of Heroes Initiative featuring interviews with NJ Sharing Network’s Jessica Melore, a heart recipient, and Pam Drozd, a Donate Life Ambassador, whose husband continued to save lives after his untimely death while on-duty as a first responder. Comcast Channel 19: On the “Eye on Ocean County” program, Jessica Melore again told her personal story along with Donna Kuchinski, a living kidney donor and NJ Sharing Network volunteer. Both also talked about ways people can get involved in organ donation outreach events in Monmouth and Ocean counties. News12 New Jersey: Viewers of the News12 show “To Your Health” learned about the importance of organ and tissue donation through interviews with Joe Roth, CEO of NJ Sharing Network and E. Denise Peoples, a double lung transplant recipient and NJ Sharing Network volunteer. Comcast: David Sickel, president and owner of Pine Belt Enterprises and grateful kidney recipient, worked with NJ Sharing Network and Comcast to produce a Public Service Announcement (PSA) about the benefits of organ and tissue donation. The video of the PSA can be seen at http://youtu.be/c1xxhJXTyv0
Montclair State University Spotlights Organ Donation In November, Brian Henry, a broadcasting major at Montclair State University, videotaped a segment about organ and tissue donation for CARPE DIEM. An award-winning weekly 30-minute magazine show that reaches approximately 500,000 households in northern New Jersey through airings on both Comcast and Cablevision cable providers, CARPE DIEM is produced by students enrolled in the Department of Broadcasting at Montclair State University. The segment featured interviews with Jessica Melore, a heart recipient and senior education and programs manager at NJ Sharing Network, Alyssa D’Addio, donor family member and education and partnerships coordinator at NJ Sharing Network and Michel Strusiak, a kidney and pancreas recipient and a Donate Life NJ Ambassador.
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To see more pictures from our events, please visit our event section at www.njsharingnetwork.org.
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Double Lung Recipient Gets New Lease on Life Three years ago, Robert Muccigrossi, a retired police officer who now heads overnight security at Somerset Medical Center and a father of four sons, was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis, a terminal lung disease. Shortly after diagnosis, his symptoms came on rapidly and he started to deteriorate very quickly. On June 1, 2009, Robert was put on the transplant waiting list. A few weeks later on August 14, 2009, he got the call that would be receiving the life-saving gift of a double lung transplant that day. Within almost two months after the surgery, Robert was back on his feet at work and resuming his life as it was before his diagnosis. He can’t express his gratitude enough to his donor, “On the part of the donor, it’s an incredibly unselfish act that really does save lives and there is no way I’d be here today if I hadn’t received these new lungs.” Robert wants to let people know that there is hope for great outcomes after receiving an organ transplant. His advice to other recipients is to go into it all with a positive attitude and expect great things to come.
Connected For Life
With the help of NJ Sharing Network, donor families and transplant recipients experience life-changing reunions In recent months, NJ Sharing Network has been instrumental in arranging two very special donor family and organ recipient meetings at our headquarters. These emotional meetings proved to be a healing experience where life-long connections were forged. To commemorate the anniversary of her mother’s passing, Jackie Lue Raia met recipients of her mother’s two kidneys — Gwen Anderson and Lisa Goodson — for the first time. Both Gwen and Lisa are in good health since receiving the gift of life from Jackie’s mother, Ena L. Lue. The parents of Donny Farrell, who tragically died at the age of 19 as a result of injuries due to an assault, met with Fausto Migliaccio, who received one of Donny’s kidneys. Pictured at top: Jackie Lue Raia (center) meets the recipients of her mother’s kidneys—Gwen Anderson (left) and Lisa Goodson (right)—for the first time. Pictured at right: Fausto Migliaccio meets with the mother of Donny Farrell, who gave him the gift of life with a new kidney.
Living Kidney Donor Gives Young Girl the Gift of Life Donating a kidney typically isn’t in the job description of a speech therapist, but Donna Kuchinski isn’t your usual educator. In June 2007, Donna was assigned to provide home school instruction to Kylie Hubbard, a three year old, who was on dialysis and waiting for a kidney transplant. Once Donna realized that what Kylie really needed was a living kidney donor, she underwent testing and beat the one-in-a-million odds in that she was a match for Kylie. Ever since the transplant took place, Donna has become an invaluable volunteer for NJ Sharing Network through leveraging her experience as an educator to become involved in the High School Heroes program, speaking at health fairs and fundraising events and volunteering at last year’s inaugural 5K race. Donna also serves as the regional leader for Donate Life regional groups in Monmouth and Ocean. This March marked the 2nd “Kidney-versary” for Kylie. Donna and Kylie’s mother, Tina Hubbard, planned a celebration at Kylie’s school where all the kids wore green and blue (the national colors for organ donation awareness) on March 30 to show support for Kylie.
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IMAGINE
One More Day One family’s unique opportunity to honor a son and the five lives he saved
Maria and Carlos Perez (middle) join Frank Clark (left), the recipient of one of Roberto's kidneys, and Alvah Beander (right), the wife of the recipient of Roberto's other kidney and pancreas, at NJ Sharing Network to decorate Roberto's floragraph.
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2012 is proving to be an emotional year for Maria and Carlos Perez. They started the New Year by celebrating the life of their son, Roberto, and the gift of life he provided to five people as part of Donate Life’s float in the annual Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California on January 2. Later in the year, they will again mourn the loss of Roberto on the 15th anniversary of his death on November 25. For the past nine years -- Donate Life -- the nationwide brand for organ and tissue donation, has spearheaded the development of a float at the annual Tournament of Roses Parade. While the college football teams that play in the Rose Bowl change every year, the mission behind the Donate Life Rose Parade Float does not: to honor those who make organ transplantation possible and to inspire people across the United States to make the selfless choice in becoming an organ, eye or tissue donor. At this year’s Tournament of Roses Parade, Maria and Carlos Perez not only honored their son and his legacy, but they represented the thousands of other donor families, living donors, transplant recipients and those on the transplant waiting list in the state of New Jersey. “It was something beautiful,” said Maria Perez remarking about her involvement in this year’s Rose Bowl Parade. “It was just amazing to be there, representing my son, NJ Sharing Network and organ donation overall. My husband and I really didn’t believe that we were actually there at the parade.”
The Life and Legacy of Roberto Roberto DeJesus Perez, the beloved son of Maria and Carlos, lost his life in 1997 at the age of 18 as a result of a brain aneurysm. He was the youngest of three who had just graduated from North Bergen High School where he was captain of the soccer team and had just started his college studies at William Paterson University in Wayne, NJ. After graduating from college, Roberto’s ultimate career goal was to work at the United Nations so he could help people from Latin countries. Immediately following his death, Roberto
on through the numerous lives he saved.”
The Journey to the Rose Parade In August of 2011, Maria received the call from NJ Sharing Network that Roberto had been chosen to be one of 72 memorial ‘floragraph’ portraits of deceased donors that would be featured on the 2012 Donate Life’s Rose Bowl Parade Float. Maria learned that NJ Sharing Network Foundation would sponsor the Perez’ trip, including all travel and hotel accommodations. “Every year, I watch the parade and wish I
It was something beautiful…
It was just amazing to be there, representing my son, NJ Sharing Network and organ donation overall. -Maria Perez
became an organ donor and saved the lives of five people: a 63-year old man received his heart, a 40-year old man received one of his kidneys and pancreas, a 51 year-old man received his lungs, a 46 year-old man received his liver, and a 30 year-old man received his other kidney. The decision to donate his organs was made at the hospital by his father. “Carlos helped me understand that this was the right thing to do,” said Maria. “Today I find great comfort in knowing that Roberto’s spirit lives
could be there, as I know how special the parade is with the donor float,” explained Maria. “It was like a dream come true when I got the call that we were picked to represent New Jersey in this year’s parade.” The Perez family then traveled to the headquarters of NJ Sharing Network on December 10, 2011 to create Roberto’s ‘floragraph’ – a portrait of Roberto decorated with flowers, spices, seeds and other organic material. Frank Clark, the recipient of one of Roberto’s kidneys, and Alvah Beander, the wife of the recipient of Roberto’s other kidney and pancreas, joined the Perez family during this emotional decorating session. Finally, the float featuring Roberto’s floragraph portrait was seen making its way down Colorado Boulevard in Pasadena on January 2, 2012 by the tens of thousands of parade attendees and the millions more who watched on television.
…One More Day Donate Life Float With a theme of …One More Day, the 2012 float invited people to live -- or relive -- a precious moment in time. Through their lifechanging experiences, the families of organ and tissue donors, living donors and recipients of life-saving transplants know intimately the preciousness of time. The float encouraged people to imagine “one more day” to remember a Volunteers in California prepare Roberto’s floragraph before shipping it to NJ Sharing Network offices for final decorating.
www.njsharingnetwork.org
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A Special Thanks to LABS, Inc. The Donate Life Rose Parade Float is supported by more than 100 official sponsors nationwide including organ and tissue recovery organizations, tissue banks, state donor registries, transplant centers, hospitals, funeral homes and affiliated organizations. NJ Sharing Network would like to pay a special thanks to LABS, Inc., one of the premier transplant medicine reference laboratories in the country, for being the sponsor of Roberto DeJesus Perez’s floragraph.
One More Day (continued)
Continuing to Honor Roberto’s Life and Legacy
Since Rober to’s untimely passing in 1997, Maria P erez has helped NJ Sharing Network inform the Latino c ommunity about the importance of organ donation. In addition, the Perez family awards an annual scholarship to a Nor th Bergen High School soccer play er, and also r aises funds and awareness participating in walk-a-thons as members of “Rob’s Team.” “I tell my story often in hopes of saving lives through organ and tissue donations , and to let other f amilies know they are not alone in their time of tr agedy. Roberto was an angel put on this earth for a short period of time, but the impact he created on people who knew him and the lives he saved is eternal. The bonds I hav e created with the peo ple from NJ Sharing Network, the recipients of Rober to’s organs, family members who have lost someone dear to them, and people in need of organs give me back a piece of my heart that I lost when I lost my son Roberto.”
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loved one, celebrate life, keep hope alive and make a difference to others through organ and tissue donation. With a design inspired by floral clocks and clock towers from around the world, the float carried 28 riders and 72 memorial donor portraits. A rose garden, containing more than 3,000 roses affixed with personal messages honoring a loved one, led the front of the float. The anchor of the float was a 30-foot clock tower with a sun and moon dial to remind people to “make every day count.”
History Behind the Donate Life Rose Parade Float The concept behind the development of a float in the parade originated with Gary Foxen of Orange, California, a lung recipient, who wanted to express gratitude to his anonymous donor and all the other donors who make organ and tissue transplantation possible. In April 2001, Gary sent a letter to One Legacy, the organ procurement organization that serves seven counties of Southern California, expressing his idea of a Donate Life-themed float in the Rose Parade. The idea behind Gary’s concept was that the float would help spread the word about the life-saving benefits of organ and tissue donation to the tens of million of Americans who watch the Rose Parade in person or on television each year. The float also would
celebrate the lives of the organ donors and the new lives of transplant recipients. In 2004, Gary’s dream came true with the entry of the first Donate Life float in the Rose Parade. 2012 marked the 9th anniversary of the Donate Life Rose Parade Float.
A Rewarding, Once-in-a-Lifetime Experience Despite the fact that there were a lot of emotions involved, Maria and Carlos truly enjoyed their time in Pasadena where they were able to meet the friends and family members of the other 71 deceased donors and learn more about each other’s experiences. “I would 100 percent recommend that other donor families participate in this event if given the opportunity,” explained Maria. “It let’s people know how important it is to be an organ and tissue donor and how many lives one person can save.” Just as every day counts, so does every donation opportunity. NJ Sharing Network encourages all those who have not yet registered to be an organ donor to do so by checking “Yes” for donation when applying for or renewing their driver’s license or identification card. Another easy way to register is to visit www.njsharingnetwork.org.
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Common Questions About Organ & Tissue Donation Who can become an organ & tissue donor? Anyone can decide to be a donor. A person’s physical condition, not his or her age, determines the potential for organ and tissue donation and is evaluated on a case-by-case basis at the time of death. Visit your local Motor Vehicle Agency and ask for the donor designation to be added to your driver’s license or ID card and tell your family that you support organ donation. Or visit www.sharingnetwork.org to register online.
Which organs can be donated? Currently, someone may be able to donate his or her heart, kidneys, liver, lungs, pancreas, and small intestine depending on medical condition and circumstances at the time of death. Many patients who are organ donors may also be candidates for tissue donation.
Is there an age limit for donation? There is no age limit for organ donation. NJ Sharing Network has successfully recovered organs from donors as young as a few days to adults in their 90s. A patient's medical history is more important than the age of the donor. If a patient has a normal functioning organ and is in good health, then organ donation is an option.
How are donated organs allocated? They are allocated on the following criteria: match with donor, medical emergency and time on waiting list. A patient’s age, gender, race, ethnicity or wealth do not affect who receives available organs.
Will my own medical care be compromised if the hospital is aware that I have an organ donor designation on my license? The decision to be an organ donor will in no way affect the level of medical care for a sick or injured person. The team of doctors and nurses involved in treating the patient is not involved with the transplant/recovery team, which is called only after death has occurred.
How to Register to Become an Organ and Tissue Donor Recipients Antwan Hunter and Iesha Ramos
Please visit www.njsharingnetwork.org and click on “Become a Donor”
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This brings you to the secure NJ MVC Donate Life NJ registration page. IMPORTANT AT THIS POINT—Do NOT provide any information.
Click on the USER ID NUMBER REQUEST link to begin registration. Go to “User Authentication” and enter your credentials: zip code, driver’s license number, and social security number and click “continue.” Click on box to register online and click submit. Click on the circle to donate organ and click “continue.” Review this page and click on submit. Print the organ donor confirmation page for your records.
www.njsharingnetwork.org
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An inside look at the evolution of organ procurement
thing one never changes by Carrie Keating, RN, CCRN, CPTC
During NJ Sharing Network’s 25th anniversary year, early network nurses recall the many changes the role of procurement transplant coordinator has undergone. Living as a transplant coordinator in the early 1980’s could be difficult. You were on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week. When a beeper sounded, a mad scramble began to find a phone. Heading out on a case could mean not seeing your home for three days. The donation consent rates were low and a completed case was a rare occurrence. In contrast, today there are many people receiving lifesaving transplants. The sharing of a heart or a set of lungs is now customary and organ sharing in the United States is done equitably through an electronic notification system and secure website. The process of turning the benevolent gift into a lifesaving organ now takes the collaboration of numerous hearts and hands. The differences are many, but there is something that NJ Sharing Network’s first transplant coordinators all agree on: one thing never changes.
A Unique, Challenging Role The transplant coordinator role is complex and unique -- there are no other jobs quite like
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it. Being successful as a transplant coordinator takes kindness, compassion, critical thinking skills, and the ability to socially interact with many different people with their own beliefs and backgrounds. Quick thinking, adaptability and critical care knowledge are an absolute necessity to getting the job done. Additionally, being a truly effective transplant coordinator requires tenacity and an enormous dose of endurance. “We were never off call,” recalls Bill Reitsma, RN, CPTC, vice president of clinical services at NJ Sharing Network. “You had 24hour accountability. You were either on first, second, or third call. When you started a case, you saw it through until the recipient was in the operating room and you turned over that kidney to the surgical team.” Bill, a founding member of NJ Sharing Network and the organization’s first registered nurse remembers, “My longest case was the entire Memorial Day Weekend. It lasted 72 hours. There were call periods devoid of any sleep or a decent meal, as members of the team labored for days obtaining consent, sharing the organs, coordinating the case, preparing and going to the operating room.” In 1988, when Lou Krefski, RN, BSN,
CPTC, assistant clinical director of tissue recovery and organ preservation joined the transplant coordinator team, he worked seven days on at a time. He reminisced, “I once worked on six organ cases in seven days in the late 1980’s. I was not home for more than two hours all week long. There were only two people on at a time and one was on back up.” He hesitates and then quietly added, “but that person didn’t go out at all until you were near death yourself.” There were few nurses on the team in those days. Commitment and passion to saving lives kept them going back out into the field for extended periods of time. When Mary Ellen McGlynn, RN, manager, family aftercare program joined the team in 1987, she was the first woman to do the transplant coordinator job. “It wasn’t unusual to work 36-hour long cases. You did everything including admitting the recipients to the hospital. You did blood work, you worked in the clinic and you really got to know the patients. We had many diverse jobs. We were tasked with everything from answering the phones, taking referrals, couriering blood and organs, perfusing and packing the organs, and then to hospital follow-up,” Mary Ellen shares.
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That Was Then, This is Now Today the transplant coordinator team has 17 members. They are relieved after working 24 hours onsite, and are allotted eight to 12 hours downtime before being called out again. Transplant coordinators routinely work only two days on call at a time before having a day off. Due to mandated laws that require hospitals to call NJ Sharing Network with all deaths, there are many more referrals being called in and the team goes out with more frequency to hospitals in our donor service area. Although currently the job is much more streamlined, transplant coordinators are responsible for assessing patients and doing initial evaluations to determine donor eligibility. Additionally, the transplant coordinators remain accountable for obtaining consent and supporting donor families, managing the donor, allocating organs and coordinating the procurement process. Oscar Colon, RN, CPTC, an in-house clinical donation specialist, has worked for NJ Sharing Network for more than 20 years. He still handles the transplant coordinator role today at University Hospital in Newark, New Jersey. “One of the biggest differences I have seen is the separation of the organ and tissue departments,” tells Oscar. “When I started, I used to have to approach for all tissue as well as organ cases.” Today, there is an entire in-house department at NJ Sharing Network devoted to approaching families for tissue consent. This department specializes in supporting and assisting those that have lost loved ones through some of the end of life decisions that need to be made. A team of dedicated recovery specialists procure tissue, including bone, skin, tendons, corneas and heart valves. Both departments have 24-hour accountability.
Organ offers are sent out electronically to transplant centers using the waiting list to make initial offers. Surgeons can then review the donor chart and make a determination whether or not that donor will be a suitable match for their patient. Oscar recalled, “Before the advent of DonorNet, a central electronic environment where organ procurement coordinators send out offers of newly donated organs to transplant hospitals with compatible candidates, organ waiting lists were faxed.”
Still, there is one thing that has never changed… While today’s transplant coordinator must have some technological skills to do the job and also must carry a mobile office, complete with computers, scanners, cell phones and an array of other supplies, the most important thing they bring with them to a hospital is not technical at all. Their compassion and kindness are the things that are sincerely remembered.
It can be an incredibly intense experience dealing with people at the moment of their loss. NJ Sharing Network staff must learn to manage their own anxiety and fears about handling a family’s grief and the actual request for donation. “In the face of our own existential angst, we are asking families to be altruistic in the worst moments of their lives,” Lou shares. “This is a big responsibility that the transplant coordinators are tasked with. As they sit with grieving families and supporting them, they have to remember that they are there to make the request for those patients that are waiting desperately in need of a life-saving organ.” Oscar believes the key to donation is the relationships that are formed with the donor families. “I had a case where the mother handed over the decision making to the patient’s girlfriend who was against donation. I asked her, wouldn’t it be wonderful if your children grew up knowing their father was a hero? That he had saved other people’s lives through organ donation? The girlfriend changed her mind and in
Technological Advancements Speed Up Procurement Process There have been countless technological advances that have drastically cut down on the time it takes to share organs. All organs are allocated through UNet, the secure Internetbased transplant information created by the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) for the nation’s organ transplant centers and organ procurement organizations to register patients for transplants, match donor organs to transplant candidates and manage all the critical data of all patients.
Lou Krefski, Bill Reitsma and Mary Ellen McGlynn have been with NJ Sharing Network since the beginning.
existential angst,
“In the face of our own
we are asking families to be altruistic in the worst moments of their lives.” —Lou Krefski www.njsharingnetwork.org
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death the man went on to save other’s lives.” Transplant coordinators spend time with family members and have seen every type of emotional response you can experience. Whether the family is distraught, tearful, and angry or sitting in shocked silence, the transplant coordinators are there to support and guide the families through the end-of-life decisions that need to be made. In those periods of intense emotion, Mary Ellen believes that transplant coordinators develop a very strong bond with the families. “It is so incredible how we connect with families in such a short time. These are people that will remember you for the rest of their lives, “ Mary Ellen explains. “From speaking with the families, they may not remember your name but they remember the gentle compas-
teams were assembled in the operating room, the mother said to me, “I can’t do it.” I was thinking to myself, what had made her change her mind? She said, “I don’t believe she is dead.” It then dawned on me at that moment that she had never had the opportunity to hold her daughter. I made the offer to her. We disconnected the vent and handed the mom her baby. She held her, kissed her and gently laid her on the bed to be placed back on the machines. She whispered, “Now I know.” One of the transplant surgeons witnessed this and at that time he truly knew what that gift meant. The case changed the way I looked at donor families. I learned how important it is to allow them to work past their anger, to have the time that they need and then they will almost always say yes. Kindness always trumps fear and
win-win situation
“When a family says ‘yes’ it is a
lives are saved…they will ultimately derive some comfort through the gift of organ and tissue donation.”
–Bill Reitsma sion and care that was demonstrated to them. The transplant coordinators take a very difficult experience and surround it with pillows of kindness that help soften the tragic experience for the families.” Today, in collaboration with the transplant coordinators and hospital staff, NJ Sharing Network has a team of family support coordinators, who also respond on-site and specialize in providing spiritual support, comfort or just an ear to listen for families enduring a loss.
Eternal Remembrance There are stories of past cases that have touched the transplant coordinators lives indelibly. Bill shares the following story: I cared for a four year old, who had been kicked in the head by a horse. A neurosurgeon initiated the call to us. He spoke with the parents explaining that the brain of their child was not functioning and there was someone here to speak with them. I introduced myself and offered donation to the family and they agreed. The next day, we had found recipients for all of the organs. When all of the different
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25 TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION
loss. Lou remembers a young woman married with two children who had a seizure and drowned right after a Thanksgiving holiday. “I was in a similar place in my life, married with children and I couldn’t help but think here is this poor husband all alone with his young children,” Lou explains. Mary Ellen cared for a six-year old boy that died after being struck by a car in front of his home. She shares her thoughts, “I met the parents in the emergency room and walked them to the operating room. We had the child in a quiet room in the dark. The parents prayed, when they were through, I asked the mom, “Do you want to hold him? It was then the father quietly asked, “Can I hold him too?” My eyes teared up as I said, of course. The parents shared with me afterwards how grateful they were for the opportunity they were given to hold their baby. It is a profound experience to be a part of the end of somebody’s life. Our staff is so sensitive to what that means. They realize this is a really intense moment for this individual and this family and it is a privilege to be
a part of this time, we acknowledge and value the gifts that are given.”
A Challenging, But Rewarding Job The intensity of grief varies and in Mary Ellen’s role in the family aftercare program at NJ Sharing Network, she enjoys helping to soothe a family’s grief. She considers it intense at times but it is always a privilege and a positive experience. Mary Ellen believes people are amazing, that they are able to think of other’s during one of the worst moments of their lives. “We meet the most incredible people from so many different walks of life but the thing that is the same is these people have this ability to think of others while their pain is so intense. That is the human spirit. It is very powerful,” says Mary Ellen. “The kind, caring individuals that guide them through these tough times are the transplant coordinators. They are willing to enter into another person’s pain and help them through one of the worst times of their lives. This is truly work that comes from the heart.” Bill also reflects on the job, “We rely on the kindness of others, the gift is a gift and the need for organs remains overwhelming.” When a family says yes, it is a win-win situation, lives are saved and although nothing you say to that family will take away their pain at the time of the loss, they will inevitably derive some comfort through the gift of organ and tissue donation. The transplant coordinator knows this. They carry on, sometimes through sheer exhaustion, offering the donation opportunity to families, making sure they are given the chance to make a decision that can save and change the lives of so many others. The admiration, respect and esteem in which the transplant coordinators hold those family members who have given the gift of organ and tissue donation is immeasurable. Transplant coordinators are privileged and honored to sit with family members who have lost a loved one, to comfort them and support them as they make some of the most difficult decisions of their life. The families who gave during one of the most tragic moments of their lives remain forever etched into the hearts of the transplant coordinators who were with them in their darkest moment and asked them to give to save the life of a stranger. Those families and the loved ones they lost will never be forgotten for the love and life they shared. And that, is the one thing that has never changed.
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2nd Annual Share NJ 5K Walk/Run Race to remember. Race to honor. Race to give hope. On Sunday, June 10, 2012, thousands of people are expected to convene at the headquarters of NJ Sharing Network Foundation in New Providence to participate in the 2nd Annual Share NJ 5K Walk/Run. The ultimate goal of this year’s race is to surpass the $450,000 raised at last year’s inaugural race to help support the Foundation’s mission and honor the legacy of those who gave the gift of life. “We were overwhelmed with the turnout and amount of support that people gave during our first 5K event last year,” said Elisse Glennon, executive director, NJ Sharing Network Foundation. “This year we hope to surpass last year’s total so that we can continue our work to raise awareness and funds to increase the number of lives saved through organ and tissue donation.” The 2nd Annual NJ Share 5K will include a certified 5K run followed by a 5K walk/run and Sprout Sprint, where children ages 3 and under can participate in 50-yard dashes. After all the races have ended, an awards ceremony will be held where winners of the races will be announced as well as the winners of several fundraising categories.
Ways to get involved with the race include:
SPONSOR A TEAM: Gather a team of friends and family to participate and set a fundraising goal. Many donor families start teams to honor their loved ones and the lives they saved. (Read about Rebecca Larsen’s family team below)
PARTICIPATE AS AN INDIVIDUAL: Make a fundraising goal and ask family and friends to contribute to the cause.
HAVE YOUR COMPANY BECOME A SPONSOR: There are still sponsorship opportunities available for any company or organization that would like to showcase their support.
MAKE A MONETARY CONTRIBUTION: If you are unable to participate personally in the race/walk, please visit www.ShareNJ5K.org and provide a monetary contribution to someone who is already participating in the race.
Every dollar raised makes a difference! Do what you can to support the NJ Sharing Network Foundation at this year’s 5K Walk/Run.
Team “3 Musketeers” Will Honor Organ Donor Rebecca Larsen The following is an excerpt from a tribute by Rebecca’s father, Roy Larsen. View the entire tribute at www.njsharingnetworkfoundation.org.
[Becky] always gifted her love unconditionally… After completing school, she found one love of her life…[As a nurse]… she gave care, kindness, and understanding to her patients and their parents. This daughter of ours could clearly be defined as the personification of “gift.” She was a gift taken suddenly, and all too soon. Yet, we know the future holds a reunion for us. That day will surely come. Until then, her gifts of life to 17 recipients will sustain us with knowing she continues to smile, laugh, and care through others still walking this earth….
SUNDAY JUNE
10, 2012
SIGN UP TODAY!
www.ShareNJ5K.org We would like to extend an advanced “Thank You” to the companies who have already agreed to sponsor the 2nd Annual Share NJ 5K Walk/Run. Presenting Sponsor Pfizer, Inc. Gold Sponsors Barnabas Health, Life Cell Corporation, Wells Fargo Bank, NA Silver Sponsors Brinton Eaton, Document Solutions, Hackensack University Medical Center, Investors Bank, MTF (Musculoskeletal Transplant Foundation), PNC Weatlh Management, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, Saul Ewing, LLP, ShopRite (Village Supermarkets), The Hampshire Companies, William H. Connolly & Co., LLC, Wiss & Company, LLP Bronze Sponsors: Adams Stern Gutierrez & Lattiboudere, LLC, CJS Violations Services, Ethicon, IIAM, LLC, Jeffrey Sobel Consulting, MagnetMailers.com,LLC, Mark & Helen Reagan, Overlook Medical Center, TSS
www.njsharingnetworkfoundation.org
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DATION NEWS • FOUNDATION NEWS • FO NJ Sharing Network Foundation generates philanthropic support for the various programs of NJ Sharing Network. Your support can help increase the number of lives saved through organ and tissue donation.
FOUNDATION BOARD Donna Albanese, Chairperson Dairy Queen of Plainfield Resident of Scotch Plains
Phyllis L. Elin, Vice Chair Atlantic, Tomorrow’s Office Resident of Morristown
Thomas Ludlum, Esq., Treasurer City of Paterson Law Department Ludlum Law Offices Resident of Glen Rock
Alberta D’Addio, Secretary Resident of Watchung
Marla Bace
Circles, a division of Sodexo Resident of Berkeley Heights
All the work that NJ Sharing Network has done over the past 25 years is not only amazing but also truly inspiring. When we hear about a person whose life has been saved by the generosity of an organ and tissue donor, we realize that all the hard work that takes place at the Foundation is worth every minute. It’s what makes me and all of us who work here get out of bed every morning and come to work. In order for the NJ Sharing Network Foundation to continue to support the work of NJ Sharing Network for the next 25 years and beyond, we need your help and support. This year, the 2nd Annual Share NJ 5K Walk/Run will take place on Sunday, June 10 in New Providence. We hope to surpass last year’s total of $450,000 raised so that we can continue to increase the number of lives saved by organ and tissue donation. Please visit www.ShareNJ5K.org to learn about ways you can contribute or become involved in the event. We’d also like to extend a special thanks to all of our sponsors and those who celebrated our 25th Anniversary Dinner and Auction on April 12 at the Short Hills Hilton. It proved to be an emotional, inspiring and rewarding night for all. Finally, let’s all continue to work together for the next 25 years to get as many people as possible to register as organ and tissue donors in New Jersey. Our work will not be complete until we substantially reduce the number of people on waiting lists for a life-saving organ transplant.
Phyllis A. Caputo, RN Resident of Fairfield
J.D. de Leon
Resident of Jersey City
Elisse E. Glennon Executive Director NJ Sharing Network Foundation eglennon@sharenj.org
Lenore C. Ford
Resident of Morristown
Randi Geffner
Resident of Livingston
Derlys M. Gutierrez, Esq.
Adams Stern Gutierrez & Lattiboudere, LLC Resident of Montclair
Philip S. Kolm
Investors Bank , Commercial Banking Group Resident of Fort Lee
Lisa Meyers
Summit YMCA Resident of Summit
Anthony E. Pizzutillo Smith Pizzutillo LLC Resident of Lawrenceville
Mark E. Reagan
Marsh, Inc., Global Construction Practice Resident of Basking Ridge
Suzann Rizzo
Investors Bank Resident of Staten Island
Peter Rooney
Ogilvy CommonHealth Worldwide Resident of Mendham
Bernard Simon Resident of Edison
Myles Varley
Personal Resource Management Associates, Inc. Resident of Mount Olive Township
Ex-Officio Members: Joseph Roth
President and CEO NJ Sharing Network
Barry Newman
Chief Financial Officer NJ Sharing Network
Elisse Glennon
Executive Director NJ Sharing Network Foundation
Welcoming Four New Members to the Foundation Board We are pleased to announce four new additions to the board of the NJ Sharing Network Foundation. Lenore C. Ford, a resident of Convent Station in Morris County, has volunteered with NJ Sharing Network and the Donate Life Committee at Overlook Medical Center in the years following her husband’s liver transplant. Randi Geffner, a resident of Livingston and a running coach, has received a great deal of exposure to the field of organ donation and transplantation through her husband’s work as a transplant surgeon. Since 1997, after her daughter was born with a disease affecting the bile ducts of the liver, Summit resident Lisa Meyers has been a volunteer for NJ Sharing Network. While surgery corrected the problem as an infant, her daughter eventually required a liver donation at age 14. Suzann Rizzo, a resident of Staten Island
who works for Investors Bank, was introduced to NJ Sharing Network in 2010 after the tragic loss of her son -- who saved the lives of seven and gave the gift of sight to two -- after he was struck by a vehicle walking to school. Each new member has her own unique connection with organ donation and transplantation. This collective experience will serve the NJ Sharing Network Foundation in raising significant funds to support the important work of NJ Sharing Network during its 25th anniversary year.
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OUNDATION NEWS • FOUNDATION NEWS Team Liberty to Attend Transplant Games of America At this year’s Transplant Games of America being held in Grand Rapids, Michigan from July 28 to 31, 2012, NJ Sharing Network will be sponsoring the participation of Team Liberty to represent New Jersey in this multi-sport festival that raises awareness for organ and tissue donation. Consisting of Mike DiPiano and Mike
Strusiak, both kidney and pancreas recipients, and Joe DiSanto, a heart recipient, Team Liberty will travel to Michigan to participate in several athletic events to show the world that organ transplantation works and saves lives. If you are interested in learning more about Team Liberty, please contact Sandy Erwin at 908-516-5695.
Landscape of Life Memorial Launched This past November, families gathered at the headquarters of NJ Sharing Network for a reception that introduced the Landscape of Life memorial giving wall. Depicting life through a window that overlooks a swaying tree in bloom surrounded by butterflies in flight, the Landscape of Life serves to recognize monetary contributions made in memory and honor of organ and tissue donors, transplant recipients and members
of the community. The bottom of the landscape is a serene stream featuring the words, “In honor of those who gave, on behalf of those who received, and with hope for those who continue to wait…for the gift of life.” With the Landscape of Life, the NJ Sharing Network Foundation wishes to acknowledge the generosity of so many.
East Meets West
Saluting Dedicated Volunteers
In January, the marketing committee of the NJ Sharing Network Foundation met with Bryan Stewart of One Legacy, the organ procurement organization in Southern California, to share information about overall marketing strategies. A great information exchange took place at this meeting. Elisse Glennon, Marla Bace, and Mara Barlow (front row) Bryan Stewart and Peter Rooney (top row)
Check Out Our New Websites! We are pleased to report that we have recently introduced a more robust and userfriendly website for the NJ Sharing Network Foundation (www.njsharingnetworkfoundation.org) as well as a website specifically dedicated to the Share NJ 5K Walk/Run (www.ShareNJ5K.org). Please visit each website and let us know what you think!
April 15 to 21, 2012 was National Volunteer Week. In recognition of our volunteers, an Appreciation Open House was held on April 17. We would be at a loss without the more than 300 volunteers that work with NJ Sharing Network to spread the word about the importance of organ and tissue donation throughout our 14 county service area in New Jersey. Our thanks for all of your efforts! To become a volunteer, please contact Sandy Erwin at serwin@sharenj.org to attend a volunteer orientation event to learn more about available volunteer opportunities. We are always looking for more volunteers to help us reach our goals!
OUNDATION NEWS • FOUNDATION NEWS njsharingnetworkfoundation.org
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DATION NEWS • FOUNDATION NEWS • FO
DONATION
matters
Review Committee Discusses Grant Opportunities On December 6th, the NJ Sharing Network Foundation grants review committee approved recommended funding for 2012 initiatives including: Wrapped in Love Comfort Shawls: A program where volunteers knit shawls for donor families as an expression of compassion at their time of loss. Huggee Miss You Dolls: Specially-made dolls that are given to children of organ donors as a means of comfort in their time of loss. Hospital Renovation: Partial funding for the renovation of the Heart Failure Treatment and Transplant Program at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center.
Peter Rooney, Philip Kolm, Bernard Simon, Myles Varley and Sandy Erwin (left to right) reviewing grants to fund programs in the areas of donor family support, education and awareness and research.
Liberty Science Center Partnership: The creation of an educational exhibit at the Liberty Science Center in Jersey City, NJ that provides a scientific overview about organ and tissue donation.
Planned Giving Opportunities to Support Our Work Personal Giving: Remember NJ Sharing Network Foundation when you decide on your annual giving. Your charitable contribution may be tax deductible since we are a non-profit organization.
Community Health Charities: NJ Sharing Network Foundation is a beneficiary of Community Health Charities corporate campaigns. If you work for a company that has one of these campaigns, please designate NJ Sharing Network on the contribution form.
Employee Giving Programs: If the company you work for offers the opportunity of giving through an employee giving campaign, please designate your contribution to NJ Sharing Network Foundation. If your company matches employees’ charitable contributions, please let your company know about your contribution so that NJ Sharing Network Foundation becomes a recipient of the matching funds.
A Special Salute to Our 25th Anniversary Partners In celebration of the 25th Anniversary of NJ Sharing Network, we’d like to give a special thanks to our “25th Anniversary Leaders Program,” which has helped us raise $226,500 so far in 2012! Contributors who are part of this special group include: Adams Stern Gutierrez & Lattiboudere LLC Barnabas Health Brinton Eaton CJS Violations Services Document Solutions Evergreen Millennium Genentech, A Member of Roche Group Hackensack University Medical Center The Hampshire Companies Investors Bank Jeff Sobel Consulting Life Cell Corporation Lourdes Health System MagnetMailers.com, LLC
Mark & Helen Reagan Musculoskeletal Transplant Foundation Ogilvy CommonHealth Worldwide Pfizer, Inc. PNC Wealth Management Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Saul Ewing, LLP SourceOne Communications Group Village Supermarkets Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. William H. Connolly & Co., LLC Wiss & Company, LLP
For information about sponsorship opportunities, please contact Alli Keleman at 908-516-5696.
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OUNDATION NEWS • FOUNDATION NEWS Foundation Welcomes New Staff Member In January 2010, Jackie Lue Raia entered the world of organ and tissue donation when she and her siblings decided to donate their mother’s organs following her tragic death in a car accident. Since then, Jackie has met and celebrated life with the two recipients of her mother’s kidneys and has learned that the recipient of her liver also is thriving. Another 43 people have benefited from her mother’s tissue donation, including people facing post-mastectomy, hernia, and cleft palate surgeries, and many other types of corrective surgeries. Jackie has recently joined the staff of NJ Sharing Network as the Manager of Foundation Development. Prior to joining NJ Sharing Network, Jackie was a program director at Bergen Community College and the chief executive officer of the Partnership for Community Health, Inc. Additionally, she has more than 10 years of pharmaceutical sales management experience with BristolMyers Squibb Oncology and GlaxoSmithKline HIV Divisions. Jackie is the co-founder and chair of the Northern NJ Disabilities Network, a trustee with the Bergen County Workforce Investment Board and a member of the healthcare and human resources steering committees of the Commerce & Industry Association of NJ. She lives in Mahwah with her husband and their two sons.
A Very Tweet Deal! Printing company Document Solutions recently sponsored a unique fundraising promotion using popular social networking sites Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. The company generously offered a one dollar donation for every user who “liked” NJ Sharing Network’s Facebook page, followed the organization on Twitter, or connected on LinkedIn. Contributions started in February and will continue until the Share NJ 5K in June.
5K Team Captain Kickoff!
Members from team I AM DROZD check out 2011 team tributes.
NJ Sharing Network Employees Give Back The success of NJ Sharing Network employee giving campaign, “Thanks for Sharing” has surpassed our expectations. Through this program, employees are able to give back to the NJ Sharing Network Foundation by opting to make a one time contribution or have ongoing deductions taken from their paycheck. The campaign kicked off in November with activities for staff to learn more about the program, submit contribution forms and win prizes. Last year, 53 percent of the staff opted to participate, raising a total of $22,460. This is more than double the amount from 2010, the year this program was established. Many thanks to staff who contributed!
Maqsood Sheikh, administrative director and QA liaison for the transplant laboratory, spins the wheel for a chance to win prizes during the kick off of the “Thanks for Sharing” Employee Giving campaign.
Team captains for the Share NJ 5K Walk/Run were invited to a kickoff event on March 25 where they received fundraising and team recruiting tips and marketing collateral material to give to the members of the team. The afternoon proved to be a great opportunity for the team captains to get to know other team captains as well as NJ Sharing Network staff members. Good luck to all team captains in growing your team and meeting your fundraising goals!
Applications Sought for College Scholarship NJ Sharing Network Foundation, in collaboration with Donate Life New Jersey and the Gift of Life Donor Program, are accepting applications for the annual Benjamin R. Chirls Scholarship. The scholarship, in the amount of $4,000 ($2,000 per semester), is given to a college student who is either a designated organ or tissue donor, living donor, transplant recipient, donor family member or an advocate for organ and tissue donation. To obtain a copy of the application form, please visit www.njsharingnetworkfoundation.org.
OUNDATION NEWS • FOUNDATION NEWS njsharingnetworkfoundation.org
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2011 – A YEAR IN REVIEW 2011 HIGHLIGHTS AND FAST FACTS
2011 NJ ORGAN AND TISSUE DONORS BY HOSPITAL Organ
Bone
University Cooper Jersey Shore Robert Wood Johnson Cap. Hlth. Fuld St. Joseph Jersey City Overlook Saint Barnabas Hackensack J.F.K. Hunterdon Lourdes Morristown Somerset St. Mary's Passaic St. Peter's Valley Christ Rahway Bayonne Centrastate Chilton Clara Maass Englewood Hamilton Ocean Princeton Riverview St. Clare's Denville St. Michael's
143 Organ donors 250 Bone donors 254 Skin donors 53 Hospitals participated by referring an organ and/or tissue donor 67% Donation Rate for organ donors 622 Transplants performed at NJ centers 4,683 NJ residents awaiting transplant Fast Fact #1 There are 112,761 people in the United States waiting for a life-saving transplant. About 5,000 are living in New Jersey. Fast Fact #2 Only 32% of New Jersey residents are registered organ and tissue donors.
18 15 15 13 11 8 6 6 6 5 4 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
Fast Fact #3 Each day 18 people across the United States die waiting for a life-saving transplant.
NEW JERSEY ORGAN DONORS BY AGE 0-49 years
32%
50-64 years 65 + years
20 20
25 TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION
64% 4%
Robert Wood Johnson Overlook Community Jersey Shore St. Joseph's Cooper Hackensack University Cap. Hlth. Fuld Lourdes Clara Maas J.F.K. Morristown Raritan Bay Old Bridge Raritan Bay Perth Amboy Riverview Valley Chilton Newton Hamilton Jersey City Trinitas Bayshore Ocean Rahway Saint Barnabas St. Clare's Denville Centrastate Meadowlands Monmouth Morris M.E. Princeton Somerset St. Mary's Passaic Warren Christ Hackettstown Holy Name Kimball Palisades St. Clare's Sussex Atlantic Rehab Bayonne Cap. Hlth. Mercer Englewood Hunterdon Mountainside Newark Beth Israel St. Clare's Dover St. Michael's St. Peter's
Skin 18 15 10 10 10 9 9 9 8 8 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 6 6 5 5 5 4 4 4 4 4 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
Hackensack Community Jersey Shore Overlook Robert Wood Johnson St. Joseph's Cooper Raritan Bay Perth Amboy J.F.K. Riverview University Valley Cap. Hlth. Fuld Chilton Jersey City Morristown Lourdes Raritan Bay Old Bridge Bayshore Clara Maass Ocean Rahway Trinitas Centrastate Hamilton Princeton St. Clare's Sussex Englewood Hunterdon Monmouth Newton Saint Barnabas St. Clare's Denville St. Clare's Dover St. Mary's Passaic Warren Christ Hackettstown Meadowlands Morris M.E. Newark Beth Israel Palisades St. Francis St. Michael's Atlantic Rehab Bayonne Cap. Hlth. Mercer East Orange Holy Name Kessler Chester Kimball Mountainside Somerset St. Peter's
14 12 11 11 11 10 9 9 8 8 8 8 7 7 7 7 6 6 5 5 5 5 5 4 4 4 4 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
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NJ REGISTERED ORGAN AND TISSUE DONORS BY COUNTY County ATLANTIC BERGEN BURLINGTON CAMDEN CAPE MAY CUMBERLAND ESSEX GLOUCESTER HUDSON HUNTERDON MERCER MIDDLESEX MONMOUTH MORRIS OCEAN PASSAIC SALEM SOMERSET SUSSEX UNION WARREN OTHER TOTAL
# Registrants 79,578 214,438 142,072 150,358 36,425 32,890 142,487 91,778 117,310 48,870 95,751 175,139 182,584 159,143 151,922 93,027 21,130 93,292 52,509 113,152 36,731 26,167 2,256,753
Total County License/ ID Card Holders 221,201 756,254 372,983 413,392 86,609 112,926 574,728 236,551 472,055 111,140 293,192 657,943 529,158 409,555 467,509 373,527 55,726 267,491 128,439 410,329 95,909 82,616 7,129,233 7,062,374
NJ SHARING NETWORK FOUNDATION STATISTICS Each year grants are awarded in honor of those who gave, on behalf of those who received, and with hope for the thousands of people in New Jersey who continue to wait for a transplant. In 2011, NJ Sharing Network Foundation provided grants in the following areas:
% of County License/ ID Card holders 35.97% 28.35% 38.09% 36.37% 42.05% 29.12% 24.79% 38.79% 24.85% 43.97% 32.65% 26.61% 34.50% 38.85% 32.49% 24.90% 37.91% 34.87% 40.88% 27.57% 38.29% 31.67% 31.65% AVG.
ACT LOCAL, SAVE LIVES HIGHLIGHTS In 2011, Hunterdon County ranked first in New Jersey with the highest percentage of residents who are organ donors (almost 44 percent). For the first time, Hudson County has moved out of last place due in large part to the work conducted by active volunteers in Donate Life Bayonne. There is still a great need to increase registered organ donors throughout New Jersey. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer to help increase these numbers, please contact Sandy Erwin at serwin@sharenj.org to learn how to become involved with one of our Donate Life Regional Groups. You also can contact the leader of your particular region, shown in chart at right.
Education and Awareness: Grants supported a college scholarship in the name of Benjamin R. Chirls, the High School Heroes program and public education initiatives. Research: A multi-year study in the molecular immunology of clinical organ transplantation was funded. Donor Family Support: Funds raised allowed two families to attend the National Donor Recognition Ceremony in Washington, DC and one family attend and participate in the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, CA to honor their son who was a donor. Other programs supported included the new Landscape of Life memorial, the development of a family tribute keepsake book, and Wrapped in Love comfort shawls.
The work we do to support these and other projects cannot happen without your support. To learn more about how to make a contribution, please visit www.njsharingnetworkfoundation.org. Thank you for your ongoing generosity.
REGION
REGION LEADER
REGION CONTACT INFO
Bergen/Passaic
Jeff Isaacs
donatelifebergen@aol.com
Monmouth/ Ocean
Donna Kuchinski
kuchinski.njsn@gmail.com
Bayonne
MaryAnn Rosenberg
gmhsjj@gmail.com
Jersey City
MaryAnn Rosenberg
gmhsjj@gmail.com
Mercer
Rich Hayes
donatelifenj.mercer@gmail.com
Somerset/ Hunterdon
Tom Pierno
tppierno@gmail.com
Essex
Open
Middlesex
Open
Warren
Chris Butler
chris-butler@hotmail.com
Sussex
Barbara Kellam-Scott
bkswrites@yahoo.com
Union/Morris
Elizabeth Stamler
elizabeth.stamler@gmail.com
WORKPLACE PARTNERSHIP FOR LIFE HOSPITAL CAMPAIGN We like to pay a special thanks to Palisades Medical Center, Christ Hospital, Meridian Health (Jersey Shore Medical Center, Bayshore Community Hospital, Riverview Medical Center, Ocean Medical Center, Southern Ocean Medical Center) and Barnabas Health (Saint Barnabas Medical Center, Newark Beth Israel Medical Center, Kimball Medical Center, Community Medical Center, Clara Maass Medical Center) for their involvement in the Workplace Partnership for Life hospital campaign (WPFL). A nationwide initiative, the Workplace Partnership for Life works to increase awareness of organ donation and registration through a collaborative effort between public relations and development departments at hospitals. Hospitals wishing to participate should contact Alyssa D’Addio at 908-516-5432 or adaddio@sharenj.org. www.njsharingnetworkfoundation.org
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2011ANNUAL FUND In Memory of Gary M. Adams Nip, Barb and Andy Brinker Patricia and Charles Christopher Chubb & Son Inc. Thomas Diodato Donna Griffin Cathy Kenny Maynard and Carol McNeil Michele Olson Paul, Carol and Josef Raszler Craig and Nancy Verduin
In Honor of Donna Albanese Thomas Demaio
In Memory of Laura Amrhein S. Phillips Queen City Academy Charter School Phyllis Urciuoli
In Memory of Amy Elizabeth Anderson Kevin McCarthy
In Memory of Mary Ellen Attiya Coastal Sound and Stage Productions, LLC Spirits Unlimited Inc./ Spirited Advertising
Wayne B. Widmann
Debbie Mahovetz Charita McAlarney In Memory of Mary McCarthy Florian M. Brustowicz Chuck McMullin Paul and Cathy Brustowicz Sean Meldrum In Memory of Dorris Buckiewicz Lew Moynihan Christopher Becker Ernie Ostic Mike Pagliaro In Honor of Pat Buddle Pat Pardey Keith Griffin Matt Paterna In Memory of Ellory H. Buddle, Sr. Marie Polega Wendy Kubu and Scott Callahan Mike Prohammer Theresa Keating Dale Sang Victor Kubu Mark Smith Tony and Marla Sofia Robert Stiloski Louis Taite In Memory of Charles Trapp Christopher M. Budzinski Kevin Trapp Michael Johnson John Villa In Honor of Phyllis Caputo Mario Vitiello Thomas Demaio
In Memory of Racey Carroll Ruth Jones
In Memory of Nicole Caruso Elizabeth Piandarian
In Honor of Ingrid and Lou Casella
In Honor of Walter Cockcroft Barbara and Rick Klemm
In Memory of Delores Cowen Marcy and Stephen Siegel
In Memory of Michael K. Cunningham
Eileen Allen Julia Alonso Mary Arnold In Honor of Bob Keller Edna Lloyd and Nick Cerbo NJ State Policemens Benevolent Association Local 395 In Memory of John Bannister Kiwanis Club of Greater NJ State Policemens Parsippany Foundation Tricia Bannister Benevolent Association Local 395 Andrea Dobin In Memory of Benjamin R. Chirls Laura Blasucci Melinda Friedman Richard Chirls Danielle and Joseph Bogner Robert Machin MTF Rachel Cunningham In Honor of Penina and Matt Barr Smart Circle International LLC Donna DeMatthews Janet Wilen Stacey and Keith Horowitz William and Mary Downey Stacey and Bruce Koplitz In Memory of Eileen Cinquemane Maria Franceschini Fara Lupiano and Lee Winter Marie and Mark Franceschini Michael Amitrani Tracy Levine Leonard Guida Randy Carson Onofrio and Rosaria Gulino Jen and Mike Cinquemane In Memory of Thomas Huth Woodwerth C. Bein, III Martin Cinquemane Shannon Kavanaugh Eileen Coghlan Jeffrey and Lynn Crane James and Brigid Magrini Joseph Coronato George and Carolyn Marcinko Manasquan PBA Local 284 J. Costelloe JoAnn and Vincent Marino Kelly McGovern Benefits Department Karraine Murray Office of Monmouth Crum and Forster Maureen Sullivan County Prosecutor Pete Dagro Alexis Sulyma Regina O'Neill Richard Flood In Memory of John Bischoff Monmouth County Detectives Simon Fox Donna Esposito PBA Local 256 Dennis Hammer Jeanette Shafer In Memory of Kim W. Bischoff Paul Jurusz Hoda Soliman Cheryl King Robert Cmil Merlin Thomas Joseph Kopchala Nancy Hosein Luis and Lori Toro Russell Kopchala North Jersey Trauma Andrea Tozzi Critical Care Associates H. Larsen Thomas and Mary Wall Trauma Center Team Richard Larsen Arthur Wisliceny Jeff Lehman In Memory of Susie Brown Jon and Meg Zimmerman Chris Luongo Rev. Cheryl L. Johnson
In Honor of Norma Jean Babanecz
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25 TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION
Earle Pearson
In Memory of Joseph D'Addio Florence Anne Barry Alberta D'Addio Robert Waldele
In Honor of The D'Addio Family Quick Foundation
In Memory of Frank Dell'Aquila Pamela Dunn
In Memory of Vincent Delviscio Mary Delviscio
In Memory of Judi Melillo Dethloff Mary Melillo
In Memory of Janine Dicken Design Force Inc.
In Memory of Romano DiNizo Juanita DiNizo Mario DiNizo Golden Pear Funding, LLC Rob Woods and Lindsey Ruscak John and Patricia Pasquale Kenneth Pugia Gina and Anthony Schultz Henry and Anita West
In Honor of Marilyn and Seymour Dipkin's 60th Wedding Anniversary Philip and Marlene London
In Honor of Joey DiSanto Chubb & Son Inc. Brianne Kreitman
In Memory of Dot Dixon Yvonne Edwards
In Memory of Daniel K. Dwyer Donna Demarco Steven Fallone
In Memory of Carmen Eckstein Nicholas Calabro Heather Calabro Lyons Anne Casey William Osman
In Memory of Ryan A. Engelke Jeff and Carol Audet Patricia Audet Avanza Laboratories, LLC John and Beverly Blair Susan Boelens Bradley & Stow Funeral Home Rose Buckley Julia Carleton Whitney Carleton Company Carleton Insurance Company Laurie Chranowski Frank and Nancy Coffman Edward and Kathryn Coldren Marilyn and William Crawford
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We graciously acknowledge gifts made to the NJ Sharing Network Foundation’s Annual Fund, January 1 – December 31, 2011. Gifts made through our fundraising events are acknowledged online and in our fall issue. We sincerely regret any errors or omissions.
Gail DeBarth Joan and Jack Degregory Richard and Joanne Dibraccio James and Doris Eggers Keith Engelke Excel Insurance Services, Inc. Farmers Insurance Company of Flemington Jill Fitzpatrick Charles Gaver General Reinsurance Corporation Virginia and Robert Halter Hardenbergh Insurance Group John and Susan Hartwig Mary Ann and Michael Heenehan Joseph Horton Debbie Jenson Mayes College, U Sciences Markel Northeast Donna McCole-Rodriguez Becky McGrath Gina McLaughlin Nina Melker Jim and Lena Mignone Auderie Moore Carolyn Moyle Angelo and Carolyn Nicolai Nola and Bob Noller Nottingham Insurance Omega US Insurance, Inc. William and Terry O'Neil Penn-America Group Thomas and Norine Petruzelli Mr. and Mrs. John S. Piontkowski Quinnipiac University Field Hockey Families Luann and Pasquale Romano Jack and Charlotte Ryan Seneca Insurance Company, Inc. Joseph Silva Michael and Joanne Smith Michael and Charlene Stiles Surplus Lines Association Of NJ Martin and Coryn Thalmann The Thorngren Family Joan Tucker The Vonderschmidt Family Nancy and John Walls Western World Insurance Group Bill and Cheryl White
In Memory of Stanley Epstein Stephen Corriss Joseph De Vito Milagros Diaz Lawrence Gelber Alan Glickman Robin Goodstein Cynthia Gorgoretti Fred Ragucci Karen Schrift Alan Waldenberg
In Memory of Carl Eubank Sally and Tom O`Neill
In Memory of Thomas L. Finne Valerie Fennell Ada Ruesch Nadine Varrin
In Memory of John Fiveland Susan White
In Memory of Alisa Flatow Stephen Flatow
In Honor of Hillary Fogarty Sally and Tom O`Neill Sigrid Frawley
In Memory of James H. Friar Robert Crowther Rose and Roger De Berardine Irene S. Kohn and Hal Silverman Gayle Hoyt Timothy Keating Susan Olinger Eileen Quick
In Memory of Theresa "Terri" Fritz Brian and Melissa Chamberlain Lindsay Chamberlain John and Lucille Cornwell Scott and Lisa Mylroie The Petzinger Family
In Memory of Kathleen A. Gallagher Cedar Grove High School Dr. and Mrs. Philip S. Cohen Middlegate Insurance Agency David Cohen and James Schutzer Eileen Duffy Bill and Sue McComb Pamela Rode
In Memory of Will Ganter Becky Sawyer
In Memory of Robin Gentile Edward Bardowski Jennifer Clinedinst Linda Dam Charles Gentile Charles Montante Raymonde Stets Josephine Surgent Robert and Barbara Valentine Debra Wrightington
In Memory of Kevin T. Gilbert Bernard Blazewicz Hunterdon Central Region High School Board of Education Jacqueline Bregenzer James Carey Patricia Carlson Sue Courtney
David DeSantis Jon Fineman Scott, Donna, David and Ashley Hanna HCRHS Library Richard Hornak Deb and John Hyde Andrew Jursik K & R Sweeping, LLC Kearns Funeral Home, LTD Sean Kelly Thomas Love Merck Partnership for Giving Mark Monahan Brian Morrison Virginia Plaza Mary Jo Povall Red Devils Soccer Booster Club Joseph Ringel Amy Shute Sigma Pi -Theta Chi Chapter William Staubach Gary Weisman Eugene Zagarella Nick Zemlachenko Joyce Zimko
In Memory of Michael Giordano Dave and Judi Baranowitz Carol and Joseph Conti John and Jeanette Giemza Mr. and Mrs. Thomas J. Lyons
In Memory of Morton Goldberg
Susan Miele Karen Strauss
In Honor of Dr. and Mrs. John Gribbon Dr. and Mrs. Charles W. Riley
In Honor of Victor Groisser, MD Dr. and Mrs. Charles W. Riley
In Memory of Richard E. Grossman Carol Abramson Ora Cohen Bill Hoffman Elisabeth Joseph Arthur Levin Lillian Lewis Iylene Miller Mark Schaffer Steven Schaffer Lauren Thaler Kristin Thonack
In Memory of David Gurland Gerald Gurland
In Memory of Garrett Gurrieri Forwarding Services Inc. Mark Lombardi Heinz Schoenberner Taylor Clay Products, Inc.
In Memory of Patricia Hedstrom Ethel and Allen Koriakin
Mabel Furstner www.njsharingnetworkfoundation.org
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In Honor of David Heiblim Rachel Heiblim
In Memory of John Kane Florence and Tom Kane and Family
In Honor of Melissa A. Honohan In Memory of Susan Karkowiecki Thomas Honohan
Bill and Louie Easton and Family
In Memory of Jeffrey Hornecker In Memory of Brian Kern Deborah Vincent
In Honor of Michael Horowitz, MD Dr. and Mrs. Charles W. Riley
In Memory of Beverly Hunt Melissa Honohan Barry Newman
In Memory of Tim Hyde Sally and Tom O`Neill
In Memory of John C. Iannocone Marianne Iannacone
In Honor of Kayla Ibrahim John Ertman
In Honor of Jeffrey Isaacs Mr. Nathan Stern and Ms. Whitney Speer
In Memory of Douglas Jackson Mary McClure
In Memory of Margaret L. Jardot Joyce Jardot
In Memory of Edward P. Johnson Mary Bischoff Nina Dato Karen Lorince Louise Marsala-Rivenburg Joseph Puchalik Jennifer Rackroff
In Memory of Fritz Jonach Susan Lamaita
In Memory of Andrew Richard Jova Richard and Karen Perry
Eric C. Blohm Foundation Daniel Kern
In Memory of Beatrice Peaches Kiefer Irene Reed
In Honor of Michael Kirshbaum Kristopher Accardi Carina Alberelli Sara Bartlett Deborah Bottega Ellen Boylan Shawn Brandt Josemar Castillo Eric Chamberlain Meghan Cline Thomas Coale James Columbia Jennifer Coughlan Kayla Craig Brett Curl Lauren Dimaria Mary Dolan Trevor Dolan Matthew Dulas Matthew Dulas Michael Dulas Lauren Evangelist Andrew Foerster Lyndsay Forte Andrew Gunter Dave and Katherine Gunter Pat and John Gunter Evan Harkum Jamie Henline Lisa Hoffman (Stutzman) James Huff Aaron Hurst
Rick and Betsy Gunter Johnson Erica Kastner Mark and Jacque Katzenback Kathleen Kelly M and R Kirshbaum Nicole and Matt Langan Philip Levesque Joseph Manniello James McCafferty Justine McCarthy Allison Meade Gene Melvin Theresa Molettiere Megan Mulvey Melissa Nolan Chris Palumbo Casey Pavlick Mark and Michelle Peterson Stacy Pimentel Kelly and Mark Puzdrak Cassie Rabadeau Luigi Racanelli Gangadhar Ramesh Jackie Roarty Mark Ross Mark Ross Kristen Ruby Neil Ryan Mark Santos Frank and Kristi Schippers Casey Spencer Deborah Stendardi Matt Stendardi Alisha Story Lynne Strickler Timothy Sullivan Timothy Sullivan Scott Sutton Heather Temple Courtney Tew Mark Thomson Karissa Tumbusch (Brown) Paul Veillette Jen Wicus Bridget Williams Bridget Williams Norm and Linda Williams
In Memory of Howard Korn Tom and Ellen Pini
In Memory of Susan Krakowiecki Karen Ansis Blind Brook Lodge Owners, Inc. Paul Dempsey Robert Fairchild Andre McDonald Kate McHale Rose Pedro Rodulphe Pelteir Christine Reiter Andrew Reiter Jeanne O'Connor and Rich Bastone Joseph and Mary Ann Sissano Jennifer Wellock
Michael Wright
In Memory of Jonathon Kuzminski Rachel Wifall
In Memory of Evan Charles Laible Eugene and Stacey Fluri Eric Laible Dominique, Natalia and Elaina Voitek
In Memory of Rebecca Jean Larsen Laurie Hauptman Mary Mellow
In Honor of Ellen Litinger Sheila Kahn
In Honor of Martin Litinger Sheila Kahn
In Honor of 25th Anniversary of Scott Lynn's Kidney Transplant Mary Anne and Thomas Aldycki Juanita Blau Francene Capone Nancy Faver Dr. and Mrs. David Lipton Marian Lynn Scott and Michelle Lynn Sandra and Robert Mandelbaum Theodore Manton Dr. and Mrs. Charles Mattina Dr. and Mrs. Louis I. Rubins Barbara Silvia Daneen and Steve Trevelise
In Memory of Sherryl Lynn-Smith Richard and Virginia Meier
In Memory of Hugh MacDonald, Jr. Gilbert Anderson Antonio Barroqueiro Joseph Coleman Karen Comer Florence Dow Laura Fisher Andrew French Denis Gilmore Robert Gross John Harvey Allan Henderson Victoria Iannarone Dorothy Johnson The KHS Life Skills Department Donna MacDonald Jane Mahon Kirk Malcolm David, Robert and Virginia McAllister William McClung Nelson Miranda Kim & Kaleigh Murphy & Suarez Vincent Policano Laura, Michael, Travis & Thomas Quegan Irene Reed Scots American Athletic Club Inc.
Every gift helps reinforce 24
25 TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION
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Michael Sewulich In Memory of Allan Morris The Sharples and Mcallister Families Sky Farm, Inc. James Sickinger
In Memory of Louis Massetti Anthony Ingoglia
In Memory of Steven W. McGarvey Joyce McGarvey
In Memory of Elizabeth McGlory Samuel Davis
In Memory of Michael "Mick" Meritz Daniel DiSanto Grant Fisher Christopher Lafontaine Prudential Matching Gifts Program Amy Rasley Susan Sensinger
In Honor of Ryan Miller Bob and Carol Schmidt
In Honor of Gina Mingrone Barbara Hartman
In Memory of Richard Mishler Douglas and Donna Morrison
In Honor of Suzanne Thomson Monohan Mary Keane William Keane
In Memory of Felicia A. Monroe and SoďŹ a Flanagan Jersey City Public Schools
In Memory of Maryann Montano John Longo
In Honor of Margaret Moore Anna Cataldo Margherita Corsetti Dominic Lazzaro
In Memory of Mike Morosca Antoinette Simonelli
In Memory of James C. Murphy David and Carol Bonesteel William and Maureen Collins Henry Cronin Susan Curry Maria Darby Nancy Follini Sue and Len Formato Edward Goggin Barbara Mara Linda Mechnick Beth Merritt Elizabeth Murphy Lynne San Phillip Henry Steincke
In Memory of Stanley Narus Lynne Beardsley Patricia Burnell Thomas Dixon Christine Lennon Kathy Reiff Barb Roeder Colette Sturm
In Memory of Jason Necker Dorothy Budka
In Honor of Dee Nelson Kurt Heinrich
In Memory of Susie Nelson Vibeke Aagesen Brad Antle Matthew Baumgardner Anita Beisel Margaret Brawley Mary Canarte Kelly Coleman Alison Decourcey Tracy DI Maria Diamondis Family James and Kathleen Durham Paruti Family
John and Jennifer Geiger and Family Thomas Glass Avanthi Gopallawa Elmar and Eileen Heinrich Kurt Heinrich Jeremy and Melissa Holmes Stephen Hunt John and Tillie Kane Edward and Patricia Koenig Adam Larson Tiffany Lim Ellen and George Lipka Michal Malur Robert and Diane McElwain Kristine and Michael Melnick Montgomery County Dental Hygienists Assn. A. Joann Moretti Gaylee Morgan William Nelson Nancy Oakes Susan Polydoroff Timothy Rodriguez Sachs Figurelli James Sourwine Mariaileen Sourwine Gauss Maryellen Thirolf Julie Trapp
In Honor of Andy Nestler Sally and Tom O`Neill
Rosanna Adams Madeline Boskey Peter Brandow Terry Cooper Judith Detuncq Ken, Ellen and Maude Emerson Gordon Ferguson Kathy Ferrarese GlaxoSmithKline Lynn Kloss Karen Latham Gail Meyer Lynn Nagy Charlie Poris Margie Richmond RT Foard Funeral Home, PA Scholastic Mark Tirondola John Wolleben Larry Ybarrondo
In Honor of Megan O'Neill Andy Nestler
In Memory of Kathy Palamara In Memory of Erica Christine Pankz Lynn Bastek Eleanor Baudoin Kristi Bennett
In Memory of Matt Papera Carol Ercolano
In Memory of Sharon Marie Ann Zigler Parks Cambria Louis Cambria
In Memory of Helen Paytas Sally and Tom O`Neill
In Memory of Susan Penner Allan and Ruth Penner
In Memory of Deborah M. Pentz Martha Pentz
In Memory of Michael R. Pentz Martha Pentz
In Memory of Elizabeth "Betsy" Niles
Charles Kennis Beth Palamara
Joseph Dellanno Tara Digiacomo Dorothea Finson Janet Griffin Jacqueline Kelly Richard Landy John Marra Merriam Avenue School PTO NJAL Cheerleading Barbara Pippitt Amie & Dave Rothstein Marilyn Strungis Gerald Sullivan Robin Touw-Holt Wildflowers with Tami
In Memory of Roberto DeJesus Perez Yolanda Ochoa Maria Scarpellini
In Memory of Joseph Persico Mary Giffoniello Lisa and Larry Fitzmaurice Domanic Family
In Memory of Dennis G. Petrey Edward Forbes
In Honor of John Petrovich John Imgrund
In Memory of John D. Pug, III John Pflug
In Honor of Thomas A. Pini Tom and Ellen Pini
In Memory of Patsy Ann Prince Maria Biancheri Beverly Bracken Bebe Browning Bruce Casey Edward Kerr Joe Landers Margaret Lawrence Phyllis Strange John Zedack
In Memory of Jerri Rand Jules Rand
our mission to save lives... www.njsharingnetworkfoundation.org
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In Memory of Anthony Rizzo Philip Kolm
In Memory of Robert Roettger Carol Roettger
In Honor of Joe Roth Fred Greenberg
In Honor of Emma Rothman Arthur Levin Philip and Marlene London
In Memory of Christopher Russell Michael Reilly Gayle Schmidt
In Memory of Eunice Sanschagrin Carl and Bonnie Arentsen Barbara Matejka and B. John Chlopecki Matt, Stephanie, Zachary, Mason and Cole Borzio Dot and Phil Keller Bob and Beth Marshall Madeline and Gabe Massey Kim and Rob Norcia United Auto Workers Local 3039 Graziella Zoccali
In Memory of Stuart Schmelz Montebello Sunshine Fund
In Memory of Kenneth Schwarz, Jr. Ricardo Cajigas Annette Crehan Kevin and Susan Greene Carrie Ifill Karen and Ray Ifill Margaret McCloskey Nancy and William Pole Terlingo's and Down's
In Memory of Joanne Seconish Dorothy Talty
In Memory of Luke Shak Frederic Shafman
In Memory of Virginia Sharples The Binder Family Irene Reed
In Honor of Michael Sheehan Starr, Dan and Sherri Muscle-Sheehan Hugh Winkler
In Memory of Daniel Sheehan, Jr. Karen Marty
In Memory of Karen Shimomura Lincoln Shimomura
In Honor of Luz Siegelwax Pamela Tyler
In Memory of Susan Singer Eleanor Baudoin
Deborah Spellman
In Memory of Sherryl Lynn Smith Richard and Virginia Meier
In Honor of Nancy Snieckus Alison Snieckus
In Memory of Sara Spingler Nancy Harkins
In Memory of Thomas Springsteen Karen Conroy Lowenstein Sandler
In Honor of Ted and Susan Stevens 40th Anniversay Barbara Collins Stuart Dewitt Patricia Montefusco
In Memory of John H. Swails Peggy Cody CommonWealth Hotels Carol Yacik
In Memory of Judith Kay Swarthout Sandra Wuennenberg
In Memory of Paul David Talbert Ellen Callanan Rhea Talbert Ruth Talbert
In Memory of Matthew and Michael Tetta Patsy Tetta
In Memory of Lynda Thomson Stickney Dena Demarco
In Honor of Staff of Liver Transplant Department Michael Nazmy
In Memory of Joseph Turro Michael Moran
In Memory of Romeo VanBuskirk Margaret Dominguez Ron Nunez
In Honor of Jaime Vega Joseph Argento Laura Barber Emmett Barnes John Berrios Mitchell Bomus Rose Boyle Jose Burgos Dominick Carra Richard Chan Paul Chiodo Maria Colon-Santiago Ruth Conde George De Massi Tammy Drennan Bryan Drennan Joann Drennan
Keith Drennan Delores Fairchild Damaris Febles Joyce Fredericks Octavio Garit Talia Garit Jose Gonzalez Orlando Gonzalez Rachel Holland Alma Laboy Christine Leese Frank Litts Muriel MacGray Mary Manser Benjamin Medina Maria Morales Victor Nieves Jaime O'Leary John O'Leary Frank Palo Perinda Pinho Jane Robenolt Joaquin Rodriguez Keith Ross Thomas Salmon Raquel Santiago Richard Schubert Lemuel Torres Felix Vega Jaime Vega James Winfield Laureen Winfield
In Memory of Alison Walsh Shannon Stillwell
In Memory of Leonard William Watson, Sr. Jeffrey Lamb Robert A. Olkowitz, P.C. John Schwebel Barry Stein Linda Woodward
In Memory of Charlie Weaver Ruth Weaver
In Memory of Elsie Weiss Mr. and Mrs. James Scala
In Memory of Elizabeth Whitney Pinnacle West Capital Corporation
In Honor of Ursula Widocki Jean Earle
In Memory of Anthony Williams Rosa Williams
In Memory of John W. Williams, Jr. Joanne and Elizabeth Williams
In Memory of Lee Michael Zerman David Zerman
In Memory of Richard O. Zimmer Roselyn Berk Art Fabian Lenore Sotelo Diane Wenke Helen Williams
In Honor of all Donors, Recipients and Those who Still Wait for a Lifesaving Transplant Donna Albanese-Demair Lois Anderson Gabriela Antao Regina Bonito Karen Brown Dr. and Mrs. Wayne J. Caputo Elizabeth Casey Hazelann Cavanaugh C.R. Bard Foundation, Inc. Robert Davis Patricia Dellbene-O'Mara Christine and Vincent Demaio Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas A. Di Nunzio Victoria Ditomasso Alexandra Drazniowsky Curtis Paul Ferrari
In Memory of Diana Caldwell Weaver Richard Weaver
In Memory of Mark Weber Janet and Edwin O'Connor
In Memory of Jacob Weinberg Robert Brennan Samuel Davis Jeff Elkin George Frasciello Stanley Grabon Maurice Michelson Neville O'Reilly Stephen Poris Ronald Rouder Josef Saloman Jeff Starr
With your support, we can 26
25 TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION
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Ashley Gartner Stu Geffner Bruce and Marjorie Goldstein John Halperin Joseph Harazim Deborah Hill Melissa Honohan Robin Howard Johnson John Jarema Charles Jasolosky Ms. Rebecca White-Johnson Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies, Inc. Arlene King John and Gail Korb Meredith Krantz Richard and Janet Maus Joyce McGarvey Theresa McGinley Matthew McKeever Susan Mead Jenna Miller Network For Good Barry Newman Dolores Nichols Mr. and Mrs. Paul M. Nitzsche Overlook Hospital Auxiliary Carolyn Petillo PNC Foundation Sheldon Preville Jackie Ramsey Lisa and Mitchell Rubinstein Saul Ewing LLP Michael Schuler Michelle Schulz Patricia Seader Jill Siegel Mary Sutton Niccole Thompson Peter Ulrich Juan Vargas Vital Medical Forces of Denville Dominique, Natalia and Elaina Voitek Margaret Watt James Williams Michelle Zadlock
NJ Sharing Network and NJ Sharing Network Foundation Staff Contributions Placida Abes Maria Aguilucho Kathy Aitchison Joaquin Arisso Joaquin Arisso, Jr. Mara Barlow Blas Barquin Joseph Caivano Thyria Caldwell Frank Catena Michelle Curnow
Alyssa D'Addio Rodger Davenport Nicanor Dayalo Maria DeLauro Dayanand Deo Whitney Downer Pierre Embrey Sandy Erwin Senora Fraser Robyn Gallas Elisse Glennon Cindy Godfrey Jessica Hatton Jan Hines Sogra Jafri Andre Jones Jorge Kalil Monique Kaymore Allison Keleman Stephanie Kelly Geraldine Kiefer-Necklen Donna King Lou Krefski Helen LaCarrubba Tess Lewis Romelle Lysenko Tatiana Martinez Wanda Martinez Nancy Mata Mary Ellen McGlynn Roseann Melendez-Tavana Jessica Melore Renee Mendez Dennis Miguel Latoya Mikel Margaret Moore George Moser Stephen Myers Barry Newman Karen O'Neill Sue Quiroga Prakash Rao Ratnaprabha Raval William Reitsma Cecil Rhodes Joe Roth Eleanor Ryan Alida Sandoval Michael Sheehan Felisa Shein Patrick Sheridan Pamela Sniffen Beata Spiewak Alene Stewart Joanna Szafran Barbara Turci Carolyn Welsh Anonymous (2)
Many thanks to the companies that provided matching gifts Please think of us if your company has a matching gift program! AEGIS Foundation American Express American International Group, Inc. AOL Argo Group US Arthur J. Gallagher Foundation Avon Foundation for Women AXA Foundation BAE Systems BlackRock Chubb & Son Inc. Deutsche Bank Americas Foundation EatonVance Investment Managers Eric C. Blohm Foundation GlaxoSmithKline Goldman Sachs
Johnson & Johnson Family of Companies Kraft Foods Foundation LCA, Inc. Improved Towel Service Merck Partnership for Giving Novartis Foundation Pitney Bowes Giving Station Plymouth Rock Foundation Prudential Quest Diagnostics Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Sanofi-Aventis Solix Inc. Susquehanna International Group The Lord, Abbett & Co. LLC
Thank you to those who held fundraising events on our behalf Concerts, bracelet sales and other events helped raise over $26,000! Bergen Community College James Bowles Dairy Queen of Plainfield Joseph DiSanto Nicole Maynor New Jersey Devils New Providence Chiropractic
Northern Valley Regional HS at Old Tappan Papa Carl's Jam for Life Foundation, Inc. PGA Tour, Inc. Rita's Ice Rutman's Organ Donor Awareness
Interested in hosting an event? Please contact NJ Sharing Network Foundation at (908) 516-5400.
transform lives into legacies! www.njsharingnetworkfoundation.org
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25 s
y a W
to Help Save Lives Through Organ & Tissue Donation
In Honor of the 25th Anniversary of NJ Sharing Network
1. Register to be an organ and tissue donor! Visit your local motor vehicle agency or www.njsharingnetwork.org. 2. Discuss your wishes to be an organ and tissue donor with your family. 3. Encourage 25 friends or family members to register as an organ and tissue donor. 4. Wear a green “Donate Life” bracelet or lapel pin to show your support for organ & tissue donation. 5. Help spread the word about Donate Life America’s “20 Million in 2012,” a bold initiative to increase the number of people registered as organ donors. 6. Donate $25 or more to the NJ Sharing Network Foundation at www.njsharingnetworkfoundation.org. 7. Encourage friends or family members to make a $25 (or more) donation to this worthy cause. It’s tax deductible!
14. Participate in our Annual Golf & Tennis Classic on Monday, October 1, 2012. Don’t play golf or tennis? Be sure to buy a 50/50 raffle ticket! 15. Spread the facts: more than 110,000 people are waiting for an organ transplant, nearly 5,000 in NJ alone. Each day 18 people die waiting for a life-saving organ. 16. Share your donation experience at your house of worship during National Donor Sabbath in November. 17. Distribute green “Donate Life” awareness bracelets at work or in your local community. 18. Volunteer to become a “Donate Life Ambassador” and help educate others about the life-saving benefits of organ donation. 19. Purchase a “Donate Life” NJ license plate. 20. Join your local Donate Life NJ Regional group.
8. “Like” NJ Sharing Network on Facebook at
21. Contact your local high school and ask how you can help support our High School Heroes program.
9. Post a link about NJ Sharing Network on your own Facebook page to help spread the word.
22. Connect with local police, fire and/or EMS departments to participate in our Legacy of Heroes Program.
10. Follow NJ Sharing Network on Twitter (@NJSharing).
23. Connect with area colleges about joining our
www.facebook.com/NJSharingNetwork.
11. Use Twitter yourself to alert your followers about what organ and tissue donation means to you! 12. Start a team for the 2nd Annual Share NJ 5K on June 10, 2012. Visit www.ShareNJ5K.org. 13. Ask your company to become a sponsor of the Share NJ 5K Walk/Run—opportunities still available!
College Outreach Initiative.
24. If you are an organ recipient or a donor family member or friend, share your story of hope! 25.
Keep spreading the word about the importance of organ and tissue donation, and help make organ transplant waiting lists a thing of the past!
Reminding you to Live. Love. Share.
Dedicated employees of NJ Sharing Network proudly celebrate 25 years of saving lives through organ and tissue donation!
LIVE. LOVE. SHARE. 25 YEARS OF SAVING LIVES 28 25TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION
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Live. Love. Share: 25 Years of Volunteer Service 25th Anniversary with NJ Sharing Network Dinner and Auction Meet Barbara Kellam-Scott and Pat Rush—two volunteers, who have worked with NJ Sharing Network for a quarter century
To celebrate 25 years of saving and improving lives through organ and tissue transplantation, NJ Sharing Network Foundation held a special 25th Anniversary Dinner and Auction on April 12, 2012 at the Short Hills Hilton. It proved to be a special evening, dedicated to honoring NJ transplant centers and hospital partners. The highlight of the evening was the “Walk of Life” where a living donor or donor family member walked with an organ or tissue recipient, representing the miracle of donation. More than 300 members of the organ donation and transplantation community attended this dinner, which was sponsored by the generosity of 23 companies including Barnabas Health, Brinton Eaton, CJS Violations Services, Document Solutions, Genentech (A Member of Roche Group), Hackensack University Medical Center, Investors Bank, Jeffrey Sobel Consulting, Life Cell Corporation, Lourdes Health System, MagnetMailers.com, LLC, Mark & Helen Reagan, Musculoskeletal Transplant Foundation, Pfizer, Inc., PNC Wealth Management, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, Saul Ewing, LLC, ShopRite (Village Supermarkets), SourceOne Communications Group, Trinitas Regional Medical Center, Wells Fargo Bank, NA, Williams H. Connolly & Co., LLC, and Wiss & Company, LLP. There was also a silent auction, featuring donated items like Yankee box seat tickets, an overnight stay and massage for two at the Short Hills Hilton and Spa, and United Airlines tickets. Be sure to check out the next issue of Circle of Life to learn who was honored at the gala as well as find out how much money was raised to help support and promote organ and tissue donation in New Jersey.
Pat Rush In 1985, Pat, a mother of eight, learned about the meaning behind receiving the gift of life twice when her first grandson, Daniel, needed a liver transplant at 8 months and again at 3 years old. Last year, 26-year old Daniel walked Pat down the aisle at a granddaughter’s wedding. Pat and her family never forgot about the gift they were given and have been highly active in the organ donation cause ever since. Following the tragic deaths of her husband Bob and son Tim, her family was able to reciprocate the gift of life by donating Bob’s corneas and Tim’s skin, bone and corneas. Furthermore, shortly following Daniel’s liver transplants, Pat’s daughter (Daniel’s mother), Peg Dreker, started a support group for recipients, people waiting for transplants and their families called TRIO – Transplant Recipients International Organization. It was through this group that Pat became involved with NJ Sharing Network. What has changed over the past 25 years? When Daniel needed a transplant, there were no pediatric transplant centers in NJ and his two surgeries had to take place at the University of Pittsburgh…it was a trying time for my daughter Peg, her husband and Daniel because they were so far away from friends and family….my son-in-law, Tom, kept Peoples Express Airlines in business traveling every weekend for months on end to visit Peg and Daniel… it’s a major advance that these types of transplants can actually take place in NJ now…. What do you enjoy the best about being a NJ Sharing Network volunteer?
Since 2005, I call donor families close to the anniversary of their loss…I let them know that the gift of life that their loved one gave has not been forgotten…Sometimes I cry, sometimes they cry, and that’s okay because it’s the personal connection that makes the difference… This is my most rewarding role as a volunteer and I will continue to do these phone calls until I can’t talk anymore…
Barbara Kellam-Scott In 1977, Barbara’s 19-year old brother became an organ donor after a tragic car accident. Ten years later, Barbara gave her first talk about the importance of organ donation under the encouragement of her pastor, and has never turned back. What has changed over the past 25 years? It’s a little easier for people to hear about organ donation because there has been a lot of publicity about it…my parents had to ask the doctors to arrange for organ donation when my brother was in the hospital…the doctor actually replied that they had to look into it…it was not something openly discussed… What do you enjoy the best about being a NJ Sharing Network volunteer? I find it so rewarding to share my story… one thing that I hit hardest when I speak is to encourage others to talk about organ donation now…it’s much easier to know what each other wants then to have to wonder at a time so difficult…it actually makes that difficult time so much less difficult…
LIVE. LOVE. SHARE. 25 YEARS OF SAVING LIVES 29 www.njsharingnetworkfoundation.org
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JENNIFER R. JOHN M. MARCEL P. RICHARD S. GERALD C. LEWIS L. THOMAS M. JULIUS D. WILLIAM Z. RICHARD M. GEAN B. MARIA M. JONATHAN B. JOSE G. MARYANN M. CAROL W. LINDA S. DIANE E. MARION R. RODNEY C. SHAWN B. MEGHAN B. MARTHA J. WILLIAM H. GLENN T. TIMOTHY L. WAYNE S. JUDITH A. JANICE B. ELIAINE D.
MICHAEL K. FRANK C. RICHARD B. DON R. VERA Q. KATHERINE J. RICHARD Z. BERNADETTE B. THOMAS M. PETER H. TIMOTHY R. PETER M. EILEEN A. BRUCE W. CHARLES H. DIANE G. GILBERTO M. ALICE T. WALTER B. BRIANA T. WILLIAM G. FELIX S. OLINDO C. MITCHELL P. NICOLE M. MICHAEL R. SUSAN S. DORIS M. KATHRYN S. PHILLIP P.
DONNA R. MILLARD T. VICTORIA A. KATHLEEN H. EILEEN S. CAROLYN D. MAURICE W. WILLIAM G. FREDERICK S. SEAN O. ROBERT M. SUSAN W. CONRAD J. ROBERT G. MARILYN B. BARBARA I. GREGORIA T. KYLE G. DONALD P. LIZZIE M. CHARLES N. SHARON B. RICHARD M. UABBO D. LINDA W. RONALD G. GEORGE D. ANTHONY H. MILTON R. MADELYN H.
ARLENE T. KEVIN G. JOSEPH P. FRANK I. PAULINE T. JOSEPH R. MARY G. KIRIT S. ALICIA M. MILDRED R. THOMAS H. LAWRENCE G. WILLIAM N. ROBERT D. ROBERT D. SHARON M. DOUGLAS J. MELVIN J. NICHOLAS R. JUAN J. BRIAN A. MARIE H. DEBORAH B. ERIC B. KIMBERLY O. DANIEL L. DAVID H. MERRISSA R. TAVON I. PATRICIA B.
ZOE J. DANIEL C. DONALD P. SHEILA W. SALEEM M. JOAN H. LUIS S. ELIZABETH B. CRAIG R. JAMES R. JULIE B. LYNDSEY D. MICHAEL K. MICHAEL C. JOHN L. BENNY W. JUAREZ C. CAROL G. ANDREA E. MAUREEN I. KIM B. MICHAEL R. ALLAN M. VIJAY P. TRACY G. DOROTHY G. DENISSE C. PAUL B. NILDA F. EMMA B.
GEORGE M. MARGARET Z. RAYMOND R. STUART S. DIANE W. JORGE C. CASSANDRA D. JONATHAN K. CHEE L. CARLOS S. JOHN S. JOHN D. HOWARD A. CHRISTOPHER Y. ROBERT B. FRANK O. WILLIAM L. FREDA O. JUDITH C. LORRAINE C. LUIS C. LEONA L. RANDAL W. WILLIAM S. DENTON M. RICHARD M. KARL G. MARIEL R. LASZLO H. KIM G.
KHIN Z. RICHARD M. FERDINAND M. MARIA D. MARGURITE C. METTIE G. BRIAN D. ANTHONY T. KEITH F. EDITH S. STEPHEN L. DIANE B. JOE V. BARBARA M. RICHARD K. VALERIE E. CONRAD W. ARTHUR B. RACHELLE N. WILLIAM F. LORENA S. EUGENE C. ALBERTA G. JOSEPH K. MARIE V. ALFRED V. CHARLES R. AMELIA S. MICHAEL W. JOHN B.
THEY GAVE
With Everlasting Gratitude to all of our 2011
RONALD L. WILLIAM D. ADOLFO E. REGINALD H. JAMES G. NIKOLA E. JOSEPH R. JOSEPH O. RICARDO V. JEFFREY D. LINDA H. HUGH M. CONOR O. DANIEL B. RICHARD W. CAROL W. LEONARD W. LINDA B. BRIAN G. MANUEL L. WILLIAM J. JAMES J. KAZIMIERA L. HARVEY S. PETER J. JAMES G. WALTER G. EDWARD P. JAMES H.
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THOMAS O. SALLY K. RICHARD W. HANT I. ROBERT W. JOHN B. HARRY L. SALLY D. JEFFREY B. BEULAH D. BARBARA H. JOANN W. ALESSANDRA M. ALFONSO M. JEFFREY D. RAYMOND M. EDMOND L. BELLE F. LAURIE K. JOSEPH D. GLENN Z. MICHAEL D. BERNARDO A. CHARLES G. CHARLENE H. SUSAN E. HARRY R. ANIBAL D. FRED B.
25 TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION
ALBERTHA D. LAWRENCE N. JOANNE W. JANET S. JOSEPHINE D. JOHN A. WILLIE D. ERMELINDO F. THOMAS G. STEPHEN P. RONALD D. JAMES B. HARRY D. MARYANN C. SCOTT M. ANDREA F. RICHARD R. EDWARD J. LUZ E. MARGARET C. ELIZABETH D. DUANE M. JEAN K. MICHAEL R. MICHELLE O. MICHAEL M. CATHERINE D. VINOD W. EDWIN H.
KEVIN T. WIESLAW P. KERRI A. GERHARD L. BHUPENDRA P. VIOLETA V. ELIZABETH N. GEORGE B. EAUSING S. WANDA B. CLAUDE C. MARY R. ALISON M. DONNA R. DEOGRADIA G. VICTOR O. GRACE M. VIDYA B. ERNESTO S. DANIEL M. CHRISTINE F. CATHERINE M. MARYLOU H. PAUL H. LEOPOLD B. CHRISTOPHER D. EDWARD B. SHIRLEY C. RENE R.
WILBERT H. JUDITH A. ARVIN T. JANICE P. RICCI A. WILBERT R. DANIEL A. ROSELL G. DIANNE S. ALEXANDRA P. LUCILLE G. CHRISTINA M. JEANETTE O. NILDA M. DEREK J. EDWARD H. DEBORAH J. CAROLYN B. MAUREEN S. DOSYCAR C. JAMES M. HEATHER A. BROCK T. PAUL C. NICHOLAS R. JOHN N. SIDNEY B. CHARLES J. ANDREW F.
JACOB B. ROBERT T. ALFRED R. ROBERT V. JAMES K. JOSEPH L. CHARLES K. KEVIN F. TOMMY A. GERALDINE C. JUDY G. KAREN A. BERLINDA H. JUSTIN T. JOSEPH V. WALESKI D. MELQUIADES G. CAROLYN F. DAVID M. FREDERICK J. MATHEW M. MONICA K. LAVEL L. JANE H. DANNY C. ERIC R. STEPHEN J. JENNIFER F. KARYN O.
JAMES R. JUAN P. NIKHIL B. IRMA W. SAMARA B. MICHAEL B. ROBERT Z. PATRICK M. FRANK P. MILTON D. ALLEN F. STEWART G. SHAWN M. GEORGE S. SCOTT J. VIOLET R. ARSENIO L. RONALD W. ANTHONY A. JAMES F. MIRIAM V. JOSEPH H. JACQUELYN C. JANET G. THELMA C. CHRISTOPHER S. DARIUS I. FRANCIS T. RICHARD I.
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EDWARD M. ERIC C. WILLIAM M. RAYMOND S. WILFRED B. MICHAEL W. WILFRID D. HENRY P. JOHN K. JUDITH B. ALBERT A. CARLOS S. ARTHUR L. JOHN K. JASON I. JEFFERY B. MICHAEL B. WILLIAM C. GARY G. DOROTHY B. PAULINE B. RAJOHN E. JOHN R. KENNETH L. NICOLE T. MARSHA S. JAMES M. SUSAN G. BARRY L. KIRBY C.
ANTHONY S. ANTHONY D. ALFREDO P. EDWARD B. SUSAN H. DONALD H. EUN JUNG K. THOMAS C. MICHELLE B. DEREK D. MICHAEL H. JOSEPH I. KAITLYN D. ELLEN H. MARGARET Y. LEE S. ROBERT M. DARREN M. BRIAN M. CHRISTINA B. CHARLES W. JUAN CARLOS M. KEVIN L. JERMAINE M. FREDERICK R. NORMAN S. JOANNE B. LYNDA S. KENNETH B. LESTER R.
JOHN K. VICTOR C. ANTOINETTE H. ROBERT W. ANDORA T. MAYBRITT P. ROBERT B. SCOTT M. SARA M. MADISON S. PATRICIA H. FRANCISCA C. JOSEPH L. JOSEPH L. ISMAEL R. EDWARD C. RONALD O. FRANCISCO V. BARBARA D. EMANUEL M. DARYL K. JULIAN D. CYNTHIA E. JUDITH R. ROBERT G. IVAN R. EDDIE M. ELEANOR K. JOHN B. EILLEN M.
JOSE C. EUFRACIO M. JOHN S. LAURENCE L. WILLIAM S. MARC S. MICHAEL M. DAVID P. ROBERT V. RONALD C. THOMAS S. DANIEL L. ALFRED Y. JOHN L. JUAN P. ROBERT S. THOMAS K. TIMOTHY O. RICHARD H. EDWARD S. PATRICIA O. WAYNE O. DAVID F. MARK W. EULA M. FELICIA H. STACY S. JOSEPH G. ILA O. ANDREW G.
JOHN O. JOSEPH K. MANUEL C. FRANK W. FREDERICK D. MATTHEW V. BRIAN M. WALTER P. AUDREA H. JAMES K. EUGENE P. NORA C. AUDREY T. RUTH B. ANNMARIE M. JOSEPH C. ROBERT S. PAUL I. ROBERT M. AMY G. RICHARD D. HUBERT P. ELAINE M. KRISTEN T. ADRIENNE S. ALEXANDRIA K. ANNA M. MARIA C. CRAIG T. THOMAS H.
DIANA M. CAROL D. WOODWERTH R. ELIZABETH H. THOMAS M. EMILY H. RICHARD K. MILDRED E. ROBERT B. DOMINICK D. DOUGLAS M. MICHAEL G. SAMUEL G. CHRISTOPHER R. KELLY C. DOLORES H. STEPHEN H. DIANE R. JONTHAN Y. JAMES M. ISABELL C. DIANE C. DANIELLE O. JAMES D. KEVIN D. BRUCE T. PATRICIA M. GUENTER K. JOSEPH T. JUAN P.
KEITH P. ERIC L. BENI D. LUIS E. NARESH L. AL-SHARIK G. MICHAEL R. WALTER R. BERNADETTE A. AURELIO L. MARCIA M. THOMAS M. MARY J. CHERYL D. BRET A. JOHN E. CLIFFORD O. EDWARD P. MANUEL S. DEBORAH K. STEPHEN W. TRACEY B. IRENE H. ESSICK J. LYDIA E. NOEL N. PETER H. KALAWATIE B. RAQUEL M.
RUSSELL G. MARCIA D. DANIEL S. KATHLEEN R. DAVID H. TERRENCE B. KEITH A. ISAAC W. KATHLEEN G. LARRY N. BRYAN S. JOHN R. LOUIS A. SHEKERIA J. DEBRA V. RUSSELL C. ALLEN C. JOSEPH F. GLENN W. DIANE C. WILLIAM P. CARMEN E. NICHOLAS C. STEPHEN F. STEPHEN P. WILLIAM D. ROBERT C. JEANNELEE M. CHRISTY H.
JOHN V. JOAN S. JANET C. MARY T. JANICE F. JOSEPH H. ELIZABETH C. STEPHEN S. LAWRENCE B. ROBERT L. LEO L. JOHN H. CHAD L. JEANETTE H. JOAN W. JESSICA Z. JOSEPH V. BARBARA B. CHARLES H. FERNANDO L. FRANCES T. LEWIS R. ROBERT G. KATE C. NICOLE C. ANDREW L. THERESA F. LORRAINE V. GARY C.
BHARTI D. JONATHAN N. ROBERT L. MARK W. WANFA R. FRANCIS S. SANDRA S. LOUIS W. JOAN L. GEORGE H. MARINA S. JOSEPH R. FERNANDO L. CHARLES S. RICHARD V. NOEL I. CARL B. RYAN P. BENNIE C. DANIEL A. ROSE D. CHARLES K. STEVEN S. JILLIAN P. VANESSA C.
LIFE.
Organ and Tissue Donors JERZY K. JOSE C. SANJAY P. MARK B. ROBERT P. LORI H. MARK K. CHRISTINE B. MATTHEW F. JOHN Z. SUSAN N. THOMAS O. ALAN G. LEONARD P. PATRICIA F. LAURIE G. IAIN H. BEVERLY R. CHRISTOPHER P. ANNE H. WENDEL P. WILLIE W. JONATHAN W. ROMAN C. MASAKO T. DELORES O. DONALD S. KATRINA W. EVAN B.
JONATHAN F. ANN S. RICHARD M. NATASHA R. WORDEN C. HAYDEE M. MOIRA H. DAWN R. PAUL L. ANN MARIE H. LINDA D. ROSEMARY T. DENISE M. CAROL P. ANGEL R. JOANN S. BENNY B. DEBORAH C. WILLIAM C. DONALD M. CHARLES G. CATHERINE D. MEGHAN K. DONALD I. CHETAN A. FRANK S. WILBERT F. ANNETTE E. JAMES M.
ROMUALDO H. FRANK W. GERALD R. SAMIRAH H. ANTHONY M. DANIEL T. RONALD R. KAREN C. JOSEPH F. SUJEI J. JANE B. JACK T. DAVID E. CESAR M. MARY J. SHAWN K. FRANCES H. SAMUEL M. HAYDEN B. TODD A. MICHAEL B. BIAGIO N. REINALDO G. RAJESWARI B. ROBERT M. GEORGIANA P. EMANUEL M. ANITA E. ARNOLD R.
MICHAEL A. GALE S. PATRICIA G. JOHN D. JOYCE M. NIESHA M. RICHARD G. TIMOTHY R. VALERIE M. KENNETH S. RYEKILL A. DESEAN W. DUNJA R. MATTHEW S. SARA S. ROBERT G. PATRICK O. PETER S. CARMEN R. ALICE K. JEANNE H. ROBERT L. MARK L. MARYANN R. TIMOTHY M. MARTIN L. DOUGLAS S. PETER K. DONALD B.
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All in a Day’s Work
by Carrie Keating, RN, CCRN, CPTC
The distant sound of my Blackberry ringing has me stirring, but the pillo w has molded so per fectly around my head and I am w arm and all sn uggled under the covers. I reach over in the dark grabbing for the BB, and notice the missed call and new voicemail from my triage coordinator. I squint at the cable box across the room— like a beacon in the darkness, the gold numbers shine 1:32 am. I know I am needed to go somewhere. I never know which hospital I will be heading to or how far I will need t o travel - what hospital staff will become my newest colleagues. I think about the family members who will be gather ed at the bedside of the loved one, all of their lives irrevocably changed. When I speak to triage, I learn there is a 21 year old young man at a hospital 70 miles aw ay, clinging to life after a tragic car accident. I throw on my scrubs, yanking my hair into a ponytail, and pause only to brush my teeth, knowing time is
critical—the hospital doesn’t know how long the patient will survive. A quick glance out of the living room window tells me it’s icy out, so I pull on my boots, grab my coat, gloves and scarf, and head outside into the frigid night air. I slide into the cold leather seat of my SUV, where my “donor bag” awaits, already packed with the supplies I may need when responding to calls. Backing out of the driveway, my thoughts are racing—how numb and in shock the family must be, terrible waves of fear and anxiety washing over them, hoping for any good news. I am torn between the sadness I feel for the family and the honor I feel in doing my job. I am apprehensive—if asked to consider the option of donation, how will this family react to the opportunity to save someone’s life, in the face of losing a loved one? About 70 miles and an hour later, I pull into the hospital parking garage, texting triage with news of my
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safe arrival. Shivering, I load my computer case onto my rolling bag and begin the long walk to the trauma unit. My anxiety heightens as I approach the doors of the Trauma Intensive Care Unit. I know I am the right person to be here, the family will need my support. I know I am the best person to advocate for those dying and waiting for a lifesaving organ. It is me and I can do it. I am a Procurement Transplant Coordinator. I take a deep breath and walk through the doors of the ICU. Join the conversation about the power of donation!
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