A Tale of Hope by Jaime David de León

Jaime David de León’s reason for joining the NJ Sharing Network Foundation Board is simple: “I received a gift and I want to give back.”

His extraordinary story begins more than a decade ago, when laboratory tests discovered high levels of a protein in his blood that showed he was in renal failure. He began kidney dialysis and went on the transplant waiting list at Saint Barnabas Medical Center.  He remained on dialysis for four years.

JD de León (right) pictured with his living kidney donor, Ken Wenger.

But JD’s blood type put him at a disadvantage. He was a type O, which means he can only accept an organ from someone with this rare blood type. However, people with blood type O can be universal donors and, as a result, their blood is in high demand.

“It seemed everyone was getting a kidney except me,” he said.  His chances of finding a match were so slim doctors considered him for an experimental procedure that allows recipients to receive a non-compatible kidney. His wife, Theresa, came to the hospital to be tested as a possible non-compatible donor. But doctors quickly ruled her out because her blood pressure was too high. Despondent, she shared her story with a colleague at PNC Bank, where she works as a Vice President of Wealth Management.

The colleague was Ken Wenger, a Sr. Vice President. He soon offered his kidney. Theresa and JD were amazed by Ken’s generous offer. And it turns out that Wenger was a perfect match, a statistical improbability.

“Ken told me his brother was born with just one kidney,” JD recalls.  “He always expected that he would donate his kidney sometime in his life.” JD said Ken discussed the donation with his brother after his brother had just beaten him in a basketball game. “His brother said, ‘I beat you with one kidney. Go ahead and give your kidney to someone who needs it,” JD recalled.  Since the 2007 transplant JD has been healthy and wants to share the lifesaving message of organ and tissue donation. “It’s my way of saying thanks,” he said.

Happiest of Days!

Hi all, Ms. Pumps here!

Today is such a wonderful day for me – good thing you can’t see me as I am typing… I might get a little emotional! This day, February 14th, marks Valentine’s Day, my birthday, and most importantly, National Donor Day, where we celebrate all life-saving donors who have given organs, tissue, marrow, platelets, or blood. I hope you will take some time today to thank the donors who have touched your lives. They are the true meaning of a hero!

Valentine’s day is extra special for me this year, as I get to spend it with my one and only heart – Mr. Pumps. We are busy planning our small and romantic ceremony and as promised I have hired a photographer so I can share the photos with you. Stay tuned!

This year, I’ve asked my friends and family to make contributions to my 5K team in lieu of birthday gifts! BTW…I am part of Team NJ Sharing Network, in case you’d like to join our team… all are welcome! I can’t think of a better birthday gift or way to celebrate National Donor Day! I also think this is a wonderful idea for those of you who are looking for fun and creative ways to raise money for your teams. For more fun ideas on how to get involved in the 5K, make sure you check back often! AND if you haven’t registered yet, what are you waiting for?? Register today at www.NJSharingNetwork.org! While you’re there, check out the Team Captain HQ for fundraising tips and various 5K materials.  See you on the race route on June 8th!

Well everybody, it was great catching up… Time for me to throw on my dancing shoes and celebrate my birthday, Valentine’s Day and National Donor Day!

XOXO Stay Warm,

Ms. Pumps

Check out my birthday crown! Mr. Pumps and I were vacationing in Florida last week… as you might have guessed, we are tired of all the snow!

Welcome 2014!

Hello everyone and Happy New Year!

As I sit here and reflect on the past year, I can’t help but think of how wonderful 2013 was and how 2014 is going to be even better. So, let’s go with the theme of “out with the old and in with the new” and let’s talk about all the good that this year will bring!

January 2014: Did you happen to catch the Donate Life Float at the Rose Parade on TV yesterday? This year the Donate Life Float won the Theme Trophy with its “Light Up the World” theme. What an accomplishment! Check out photos from the event or watch the video to get a better look at the float in action! The Donate Life Float can be seen about 7 minutes in. 

February 2014: As many of you may know, Valentine’s Day also happens to be my birthday. It couldn’t be more perfect; a day full of love and the color red… my two favorite things (if you don’t count shoes). February 14^th also marks National Donor Day, a day which highlights the power to save lives through donation. So with that, let’s make February a month full of love… love for family, love for friends, and love for everyone touched by organ and tissue donation – something so many of us have in common. You also might remember that Mr. Pumps and I were to be married on February 14th… and we decided that since the day is already full of engagements we would have a nice small ceremony for our family. Stay tuned because I can’t wait to show you the pictures after the big day!

April 2014: Three words… DONATE LIFE MONTH! Woo Hoo! I am super excited for DLM 2014, and even though it is a little ways away, we have already started planning over here at NJSN. On April 12^th, we will be holding our 2^nd Annual Volunteer Conference in honor of National Volunteer Week (April 6-12). Registration is not yet open, but you can count on me to let you know when it is. I hope to see you there! Like us on Facebook and be sure to keep up with upcoming Donate Life Month events!

June 2014: I can’t believe it, but the 4^th Annual 5K is only 5 months away! If you haven’t yet, visit www.NJSharingNetwork.org to register today. Start talking to family and friends about their involvement this year and be sure to share with us your photos of fundraising or team events along the way! You can send them to aabramo@njsharingnetwork.org.

Wow, we have so many wonderful things coming up! Stayed tuned for more updates :)

TTYL, XOXO

Ms. Pumps

She’s red. She’s lovable. And she has a lot to say. She’s Ms. Pumps, NJ Sharing Network’s favorite mascot!

‘Tis the season to be giving

As we all know, this is the season to be Jolly. On the last post, I talked about Generosity. So I would like to slightly change the traditional “’Tis the season to be jolly” to “Tis the season to be GIVING.” This year, why not give of your time to those who are in need of someone? This year, why not give food or clothing to those who need to eat or are without clothes? This season, why not give words of encouragement to those who are in need of hearing words that may uplift their spirits? This year, what if we bought less and gave more?  Believe me, it may just revolutionize your holiday experience.

I leave you with these giving quotes which will hopefully help you realize that we’re all in this experience called life together. When you give, you will experience greater joy and passion in your life. This concept has been taught by many wise people and it’s definitely a practice we need in every area of our lives.

“As we struggle with shopping lists and invitations, compounded by December’s bad weather, it is good to be reminded that there are people in our lives who are worth this aggravation, and people to whom we are worth the same.” –Donald E. Westlake

“If you do not have peace in your life, you, like many others, have probably not fully understood its message. You receive exactly what you put out, or, “As you sow, so shall you reap.” – Thomas D. Willhite

“One of the things I keep learning is that the secret of being happy is doing things for other people.” –Dick Gregory

“The joy of brightening other lives, bearing each other’s’ burdens, easing other’s loads and supplanting empty hearts and lives with generous gifts becomes for us the magic of the holiday season. –W. C. Jones



Jay Arisso Jr., BSB, CGRS
Manager of Family Services at NJ Sharing Network
Jay is Senior Pastor of La Iglesia Church in Elizabeth, NJ and oversees NJ Sharing Network’s aftercare program. 

Generosity

“When all else fails, generosity always wins. You can never lose with generosity.” –Jay Arisso Jr.

You’re probably saying to yourself,  “Things have taken a wrong turn when Jay is quoting himself.” I promise I won’t do this a lot, but I had to use this quote because it really impacted me when I heard myself say it. At the core of all we do, is the powerful principle of generosity. We have talked a lot about this throughout the organization in these last few months. From the power that generosity gives our NJSN Foundation to fund amazing programs, trainings, outreach and community education, to the everyday miracle that we are allowed to be a part of when we witness the generosity of families which open their hearts to give to those in need in the midst of their pain. From the power of generosity from our external affairs team which work hard to spread the word of donation to all those who give the needed support to make that happen. We live in the middle of generosity. Yes, it’s our job to do this, but when talking to many throughout our organization, there is one common factor: We don’t look at our job as our job, we look at it as our mission. It’s both amazing and humbling to be able to live a mission that literally changes lives and literally changes the world, one family at a time. What is done here at NJSN has a direct impact on someone’s life. That is such a huge honor and responsibility.

In an odd way, giving actually fills us. Emptying our cup, fills our cup. It feels good to help someone in need. So as you give your all when supporting and approaching a family, managing a donor, talking to a CEO at a hospital or working with a difficult physician that doesn’t really get what we do, remember this: “When all else fails, generosity always wins. You can never lose with generosity.” It’s not perfect all the time. It’s not easy all the time. But at the end, it’s always rewarding.

Be encouraged,

Jay 



Jay Arisso Jr., BSB, CGRS
Manager of Family Services at NJ Sharing Network
Jay is Senior Pastor of La Iglesia Church in Elizabeth, NJ and oversees NJ Sharing Network’s aftercare program. 

Get Pumped with Ms. Pumps for the NJSN 5K Walk/Race!

Hi All, Ms. Pumps here! I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving filled with love, laughter, family and friends. I don’t know about you, but I am still stuffed from all of the wonderful food!

My favorite parts about this time of year is getting together with family and friends and reminiscing about the great times we have had together. This year at my table, Mr. Pumps brought up the 5K and reminded everyone about what a great day it is for getting everyone together to remember and honor family and friends. I knew there was a reason I said YES to his proposal! So that got me thinking… I know the 5K is still a little ways away, but I want to hear what you are doing to get ready for next years walk/race! Feel free to watch the 5K video from last year’s race. It always gets me PUMPED UP! Can you tell I am super excited?


On the subject of being excited – as you know this past Friday was “Black Friday” and although I couldn’t be more thankful for my current shoe collection I had to go check out the sales. I always limit my spending so that I have some money left over for “Giving Tuesday”. The Giving Tuesday campaign is a national day of giving at the start of the annual holiday season. It celebrates and encourages charitable activities that support non-profit organizations. If you haven’t yet, please consider making a donation to NJ Sharing Network on Giving Tuesday! And as you know, there is no greater gift than the gift of life, so be sure to register as an organ and tissue donor online or at your local motor vehicle agency.

Wishing you all a healthy and happy holiday season!

TTFN, ta ta for now!

XOXO Ms. Pumps

Happy Halloween!

Hi everyone!

Long time no see! As always, we’ve been super busy over here at NJ Sharing Network, and I have so much to tell you!

Time for a Photo-Op! Mr. Pumps and I recently had our photo taken outside of NJ Sharing Network. They came out so wonderful, we might use them on our wedding invitations!

First, our Annual Golf and Tennis Classic held at Baltusrol Golf Club was a huge success and, despite the rain, it was a beautiful day! I would like to send a special “Thank You” to all who participated, as well as to our sponsors. We couldn’t do it without you! Be sure to check out photos from the day on our Flicker Album.

Next on the agenda, I am SO excited to share with you some news about the Donate Life Rose Parade Float which will be a part of the 2014 Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California. If you are unfamiliar with the Tournament of Roses Parade, since 2004, the Donate Life Rose Parade Float has served as a memorial to organ and tissue donors and a platform for donor families, living donors and transplant recipients to inspire the world to save and heal those in need through the gift of life. It really is such a spectacular tribute; I can’t think of a better way to honor all organ and tissue donors! At this year’s Parade, NJ Sharing Network Volunteer and Donor Wife, Pam Drozd, will be seen by millions of television viewers as she honors her husband’s final act of kindness – giving the gift of life. Pam’s husband, Mike, passed away in 2008, and became a tissue donor, helping 57 people. What a legacy!

Finally, Halloween is almost here! Are you dressing up and going trick-or-treating?! Mr. Pumps and I are going to stay in this year to give out healthy treats to our Trick-or-Treaters. As I always say, a healthy heart is a happy one :)

5 Tips for a Healthy Halloween:

1. Fill up on healthy foods before going trick-or-treating – the less hungry you are, the less snacking along the way!
2. Hand out low-sugar treats or toys instead of candy – some children prefer to take a small toy (consider pencils, erasers, stickers, tattoos, glow sticks). After all, the excitement is in collecting the treats, not necessarily in eating them!
3. Exercise while trick-or-treating: Walk from house to house instead of driving – but be careful! Always make sure you are with a parent or guardian before venturing out on your own.
4. Keep only a small bag of your favorite treats, and hide the rest in the freezer so it is out of sight, and out of mind!
5. Purchase Halloween candy the day of trick or treating to avoid temptation. Buy less than what you think you will need to avoid leftovers and purchase candies that are not your favorite.

If you follow these few steps you’ll be sure to have a happy and healthy Halloween! Ready… Set… BOO!
XOXO Until next time,

Ms. Pumps

Thank You!

Hi everybody!

I can’t believe summer is almost over…  how time flies when you’re having fun with the people you love! August was a busy month at NJ Sharing Network, and we have so much to look forward to this month. Let me fill you in!

A very special meeting took place last week, when Mary DiNardo, donor wife, met Don Zolkiwsky, the recipient of her husband’s heart, for the very first time. Check out the photos from this powerful and memorable moment! You can even watch this special meeting which was covered by CBS Evening National News.

Mary DiNardo met Don Zolkwisky,the man who received her husband’s donated heart, for the first time at NJ Sharing Network’s headquarters!

Coming up: National Thank You Day is September 15th, so make sure to say thank you to those people who make even the smallest difference in your life. Following that special day, is National Surgical Technologists Week from September 15th – 21st. NJ Sharing Network will be celebrating our surgical recovery techs who work so hard to save and enhance lives each and every day! Last but not least, towards the end of the month is National Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15th – October 15th, where we celebrate and recognize the many contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans – including NJ Sharing Network staff, volunteers, community partners, donor families and transplant recipients.

What an exciting month this is going to be! And what is more special than honoring our families, donors, recipients, and our surgical techs who make the miracle of organ and tissue donation possible. So, as a warm-up for National Thank You Day, NJ Sharing Network and I would like to say THANK YOU to each and every one of you for the life-saving work you do each day – you truly are making a difference and we could not do it without you!

Oh, and how could I forget!? Can you believe the 5K is only 9 months away? SAVE THE DATE because we have just confirmed SUNDAY, JUNE 8, 2014 at our HQ in New Providence, NJ for next year’s walk/race. I hope I will see you there next year!

Well, it was so nice catching up with you but as you know wedding planning keeps a girl so busy! This weekend I am going shopping for my bridal shoes – SO EXCITED!

Talk to you soon! XOXO,

Ms. Pumps

P.S. Be sure to Like us on Facebook, and Follow us on Twitter for daily news and updates!

Celebrate National Minority Donor Awareness Week!

Hey everyone! Sorry I’ve been away for a few weeks. I’ve been celebrating my engagement and as always, I am trying to spread organ and tissue donation awareness in my community! Did you know that this week is National Minority Donor Awareness Week? It is a time to honor minority donors and their final act of kindness. It’s also a time to thank our minority donor families, recipients and organ donation advocates who help us raise awareness about the life-saving benefits of organ and tissue donation in all communities. It doesn’t matter what color you are or where you’re from… you can give the greatest gift of all to another person through organ and tissue donation – Life! During National Minority Donor Awareness Week, it is SO important to increase awareness of the need for more organ and tissue donors, especially among minorities. I also try to encourage others to register as donors and to take better care of their health to shorten the list of those waiting for a life-saving or life-enhancing transplant.

Maria Perez and her family participate in NJ Sharing Network’s 5K Walk/Race each year to honor her son. His gift of organ donation saved 5 lives! Maria also goes into the Hispanic community to talk about organ and tissue donation to help raise awareness!

So my friends, here are a few things that you can do to stay healthy and help save lives!

 1. Register to be an organ and tissue donor. National Minority Donor Awareness Week is a great time to register to be an organ and tissue donor!
2. Let your family know your wishes. One person can save up to 8 lives through the gift of donation, and over 50 through the gift of tissue!
3. Take care of your health. Get your blood pressure checked this week! Fast Fact: Minorities are at higher risk for developing high blood pressure and diabetes, both of which increase the chance of organ failure.
4. Exercise. Go for a walk, a swim, or a hike, or take the stairs instead of the elevator! Reducing your risk of obesity, hypertension and diabetes can decrease your chances of needing an organ transplant.
5. Choose healthier food options. More green vegetables and less red meat are keys to a healthier diet! Try to eat more veggies and cut out the sugary snacks.
6. Get the facts and spread awareness. Tell your friends why organ and tissue donation is so important!

Until next time!

XOXO

Ms. Pumps

So far have raised over $720,000… Together we can reach our goal of $750,000!

Hey Everybody!

Happy 4th of July! I hope you had a great day yesterday – the weather couldn’t have been more perfect! Mr. Pumps and I had all of our friends and family over for a BBQ. It was so much fun! We’ve been working on the wedding planning and as soon as we have a date set I will be sure to let you know!

I can’t believe how close we are to reaching our goal of $750,000! And who do we have to thank for that??? YOU! You all have been so amazing and you continue to inspire me each and every day. If you are still fundraising and collecting contributions from your friends and family and team members, you still have time! Contributions will be accepted by mail, on-line and by phone until JULY 15 so keep up the great work! Together I know that we can reach our goal.

My favorite picture of the day. Look at all of our Team Captains!

Tips for a Healthy Heart!

Summertime means grilling time – time with family and friends and time to enjoy delicious foods. If you’re grilling burgers, be sure to buy lean or extra lean beef, drain off the excess fat after cooking and avoid making huge patties.  *Remember that a serving of meat is about the size of a deck of cards (3 oz).  You can even add finely chopped green pepper to your beef to get in some veggies! If you’re grilling fish, the healthiest types include salmon, trout and herring, which are high in heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids.  Rub a fillet with lemon juice and parsley or rosemary for enhanced flavor.

Yours Truly,

Ms. Pumps, XOXO