Anthony Rizzo’s Floragraph Finishing Ceremony

A beautiful ceremony was held on November 6, to honor organ and tissue donor Anthony Rizzo.  Read below to see what his mother, Suzann Rizzo, said to those who attended.

The Dignity Memorial Network will honor six organ and tissue donor families across the United States with a floragraph of their loved ones that will be featured on the Donate Life Float entry in the 126^th Rose Parade on January 1, 2015.  Tonight we celebrate that Dignity Memorial will be sending Joe, Joseph, Elissa and myself to participate in the creation of the Donate Life Float and to honor Anthony with a floragraph.  A floragraph is a memorial portrait of Anthony made out of natural and floral material.  Hundreds of volunteers participate in the creation of the Donate Life float.  His floragraph has been shipped from California to Staten Island to be completed.  We have completed his floragraph and it is now ready to be sent back to California and be placed on the float beside the other honorees.  Anthony will be among 72 honorees on this years float.  We are extremely honored to be a part of such a magnificent event and we would like to thank the Dignity Memorial Network for allowing us to be able share our story with others that have lived what we have lived.  Before we send the floragraph back to California, we wanted to share this wonderful experience with all of you.

 

This year’s floats theme is “The Never Ending Story” which celebrates the inspiring stories that live on forever through organ and tissue donation. This evening you have listened to only one of the stories.  This story has helped us in our healing process, and our hope is that you spread this story and educate others. We welcome you come, touch, and see what has been created from our earth by volunteers.  Please remember that this is the special time of year that we give Thanks for what God has given us and although Anthony is no longer with us, his story is never ending, and for that we are thankful.

First and foremost I would like to thank everyone for coming this evening to celebrate our son Anthony. The last time we were together like this was when were we all were saying goodbye to a 16 year old boy whose life had tragically ended in a fatal car accident.  Tonight is not about the car accident…tonight is not about saying goodbye.

I’m sure that everyone in this room has experienced tragic loss in one way or another….Whether it being a grandparent, a parent, a spouse, a cousin, a sibling or a child. The feeling of loss is not all the same.  You cannot explain it.  You cannot teach it.  The only word that can be used to describe loss is “emptiness”.  As a catholic we learn that when we die our bodies are laid to rest but our spirit/ our souls go to Heaven to live with God through all eternity.  Life itself does not end, it merely changes.  The words that I have just used to describe “death”, to me are just words.  We are left behind on this earth to endure the tragedy’s, to continue on,,,,, to live.  We cannot be left to try to understand God’s plan for us, but just know that he is there with us every step of the way.  Tonight we celebrate and learn how God was with our family through the death of Anthony and how he continues to be with us even 4 ½ years after.

In the 11 days after Anthony’s accident we learned that if Anthony ever recovered from his injuries, he would never be the son, the brother that once was. The injuries that he suffered were so severe that he would only be left with a shell….the outside…. With the technology we have today Anthony could have stayed alive on all those machines for a long time.  What kind of a life would that be for Anthony, what type of future would there be for Joseph and for Elissa. We wanted to be able to smile when we spoke about Anthony…we wanted to remember the way that Anthony laughed, they way he loved so dearly.  Although the choice was extremely painful for Joe and I, we knew that it was time
for us to let him go.

Less than one percent of all organ donors can actually be considered for organ donation. Anthony fell into that one percent category.  Anthony’s body was as perfect as the day he was born.  All his injuries were sustained in Anthony’s brain.  The decision for Organ Donation was tough for us, but we knew that if Anthony had to make that decision that he would have agreed.  What we didn’t know was that the choice for organ and tissue donation would continue to affect our family even today.  Although we felt this way at the time of Anthony’s death, we learned that we are not alone.  There are thousands of people every day waiting for an organ to be able to continue living, and to continue loving their family.  Some die waiting for that precious gift.  Today we are all able to watch the season’s change, to see the beautiful colors of the trees, their are many that cannot.  They wait, and wait for that perfect match to be able to see again.  Today, so many women are enduring breast cancer. With tissue donation, reconstruction can be made possible…to make their struggle a little bit easier.  When a family is struck by tragedy they are not thinking of saving lives, they are lost in there own struggle….why wouldn’t they be?  At the time Joe and I were not thinking of organ donation, we were only thinking about Anthony.  That changed.

When Joe and I made the decision for organ and tissue donation we did not realize the impact it would have on our family. The decision was made…. and then we moved on to the next decision we had to make.  It was time to lay our oldest son to rest.  Years went by before we thought about trying to contact one of Anthony’s recipients…One of the 5 recipients.  Anthony saved the lives of 5 other people.  Imagine that.  It is still hard to wrap your head around that concept.  Our boy saved someone else’s life….We did hear back from one of Anthony recipients……a boy…..At the time of Anthony’s death our new friend Chase was only 7 months old.  This little boy would have died without a liver transplant…Anthony was a perfect match…If you didn’t know, The liver is the only organ that can be split.  Chase received a small part of Anthony’s liver.  Chase’s body grew around the organ because he was so small.  It saved his life.  How happy do you think those parents were that their baby boy would now be able to grow up??…Maybe play soccer like Anthony did.  How lucky were we to learn that they wanted to meet us??  Words cannot describe the feeling of meeting the person that now has a part of your son living inside him.. He is now 5 years old.  The ride home from Whitestone, NY was a quiet one.  I believe that day we knew that we made the right decision for organ donation.  Anthony may have died, but his Gift of Life lived on in that little boy.

Children grow up in the world today with many Hero’s. Baseball heroes, Football heroes, now there is another Hero.  Joseph and Elissa will grow up not remembering that they lost their brother in a tragic accident and he died Period….. but they will grow up knowing that their brother Anthony saved the lives of 5 other people with his Gift,  two people can now see , and countless lives enhanced….  A real life hero !!

Tonight is about learning what happened after….Tonight is about educating others on Organ and Tissue donation. We continue to learn how Anthony’s gift of life continue to effect the lives of so many others and how you can help in spreading what you have learned tonight.  We hope that you will take with you what you have learned and educate others.  We, are looking forward to the day that we will be blessed to meet the 4 other recipients of Anthony’s gift and will look forward to sharing that with all of you.

Faith Leaders Focus on Life-Affirming Gifts by Jay Arisso, Jr.

For me, connecting my faith to my position here at NJ Sharing Network, as Manager of Family Services, has always made sense. My work is more a mission than a job. Generosity is at the core of my faith. I believe God helps us and is generous to us and we, in turn, must be driven to help others.

As the lead pastor for a non-denominational Christian church in Elizabeth, my faith supports my work. And my work supports my faith.

On National Donor Sabbath, November 14-16, I will join faith leaders in New Jersey and around the nation to focus on the life-affirming gifts of organ and tissue donation. We celebrate Donor Sabbath each year, two weekends before Thanksgiving.

During this time we all share in the conversation and spread the life-saving message. Nearly every religion supports organ donation, and sees donation as a selfless act of compassion and generosity. During Donor Sabbath, many faith-based leaders will organize programs to educate their congregations and share the stories of recipients and donor families — as well as those of people waiting for a life-saving gift.

For many years, I’ve organized National Donor Sabbath events that have brought together Muslims, Catholics, Protestants, Jews, Buddhists and other leaders of faith communities to talk about organ donation. We are able to break down the religious walls and come together to focus on what we all share: a deep regard for the mission to save and enhance lives through organ and tissue donation.

I share with faith based leaders that educating members about organ and tissue donation as a matter of everyday life is important. Education provides the understanding and information necessary in case the opportunity to donate ever arises. Faith leaders should have the knowledge they need if members of their communities reach out for their help and guidance.
We make sure the faith-based leaders who participate in our Donor Sabbath events have the education they need to answer any question. At a recent event that NJ Sharing Network organized with Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital — Hamilton, some faith-based leaders asked questions such as: Can a person who is an organ donor have a viewing? They can. Will organ donation interfere with a burial? No, it will not.

We also explained brain death, and we shared stories of how donor families suffering from loss often find solace in their decision to help others. And we talked about how the need for registered donors is paramount.

So often in our world we focus on what makes our faith communities different from one other. A wonderful element of National Donor Sabbath is that people from all major faiths come together to focus on what we all share.

On Donor Sabbath we talk about how we are all connected, and how we are united in the mission to enhance and save lives through organ and tissue donation. On Donor Sabbath, if you are a faith-based leader, please learn more about organ donation and share that information with your members. And if you are a member of a faith-based community, please consider striking up a conversation with your faith leader.

Remember that NJ Sharing Network is always here to help support and encourage that conversation.


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 Family Services program.

Happy Fall!

Hi everyone,

It has been so long since my last post, but for good reason! I have been so busy with NJ Sharing Network events and celebrations, and I wanted to give you a recap of everything that has happened over the past few months. As you may know, the 5K was a huge success this year: We had over 6,000 participants and raised over $800,000! We could not do it without you… THANK YOU! While
fundraising is still open, we are excited to give you important news about next year’s 5K. Stay tuned!

Although summer came and went, we ended it on a positive note with National Minority Donor Awareness Week (August 1 – 7), celebrating and remembering minority organ and tissue donors while highlighting the critical need for people from diverse communities to register as organ and tissue donors. Kicking off the school year and following National Minority Donor Awareness Week, Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15 – October 15) gave us a special time to honor Hispanic organ and tissue donors and recipients across the country. While this awareness initiative will soon come to an end, the precious gift of life given by so many will live on forever.

A little fact about me, the fall is my favorite season! I love pumpkin and apple picking, Halloween festivities, and of course my favorite NJSN event (aside from the 5K of course!) our Annual Golf Classic. It was such a success this year – beautiful weather and good company. Thank you to our sponsors! Check out photos from the day.

My favorite time of year is also home to National Donor Sabbath (November 14 – 16), which marks a special time across the country for clergy and their congregations to unite and help spread the word about the gift of life. For resources and more information about how to get involved in your community, download our resource kit!

Well, I won’t keep you any longer… if you’re anything like me you still don’t know what you want to be for Halloween and need to find the perfect costume! Finding a costume to fit my heart-ish figure is always a task.

Stay healthy and happy this Halloween… here’s how!

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 buddy 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.

XOXO TTYL,

Ms. Pumps

A Tale of Hope by Maddy Bowles

My name is Maddy Bowles. I’m 18 years old and I have spent more than half of my life helping my mom fight for hers. More than 15 years ago, Anne Bulgermy mom needed a kidney transplant. My family went through a lot of heartbreak and disappointment as it was discovered that out of 14 family members and friends that got tested to give my mom a kidney, we were unfortunately not a compatible match. My mom, Martha, was on the donation list for years, not to mention all of the generous people who offered to be a living donor. But she had antibody rejection issues, so she went on dialysis and kept waiting. There were nights that my younger sister, Clare, and I didn’t know if we’d have my mom the next day. And there were some things I didn’t fully understand at the time, such as when my mom missed my eighth birthday because she was in the hospital.

Martha Bowles celebrating the tenth anniversary of her transplant with her kidney donor, Anne Bulger.

Finally, my great aunt Anne Bulger, proved to be a match and the kidney transplant was a success. Now, each January, our family celebrates my mom and Anne’s health and the successful transplant; this year marked the 10th anniversary of the transplant!

This June, my sister Clare and I raised money for NJ Sharing Network (along with the help of many family and friends) in honor of my mom and Anne’s 10th anniversary, and our family participated in the 5K Walk/Race. I’ve been involved with NJ Sharing Network for years. Throughout high school, I worked to help the Donate Life cause, and my family also participated in the National Kidney Foundation Walk in NYC a few years ago. I even wrote my college essay on my mom’s gift of life, family hardships, and the power of NJ Sharing Network’s support.

Though my mom’s sickness was a trying time for my family, ultimately we became closer than ever. We’ve learned to never take our health for granted, and to cherish the time spent with loved ones.

A Tale of Hope by Brian Mansfield

Like most people I have heard of organ and tissue donation, but never really knew much about it. I knew the concept, but never understood how great of an impact it had on peoples’ lives. However, that all changed in December 2012, when at the age of 16 I found myself in need of a cornea donor in hopes of saving my vision in my left eye.

Brian Mansfield, Awardee of the 2014-2015 Benjamin R. Chirls Scholarship

At the end of my sophomore year everything was going great. I was playing lacrosse, doing well in school, having fun with my friends, and being a kid, but then everything changed in the blink of an eye. In May 2012, I contracted Acanthamoeba Keratitis in my left eye. It is a very rare and serious eye disease that affects only one in two million, and can lead to blindness or loss of an eye. In my case, I suffered from vision loss, excessive tearing, swelling, pain, eye spasms, and light sensitivity so severe I couldn’t even tolerate the light from a cell phone. I had to stop all my activities, including school because of these symptoms. Over the summer I was restricted to a pitch black basement due to the light sensitivity, while at the same time undergoing numerous different treatments, and visiting the doctor’s office three times a week in New York City as I needed to be closely monitored. My condition only worsened and despite suffering from these symptoms I attempted to go back to school the following fall for my junior year.

School was very difficult as I faced numerous challenges because of my condition. I couldn’t look at the board, was still in constant pain, and was frequently absent due to my illness, which led me to be fall behind and play catch up in class. I was able to push through these obstacles until November when I had to stop going to school as I underwent an unsuccessful experimental surgery called Collagen Cross Linking. The surgery worsened my condition and I required an emergency corneal transplant or risk losing my left eye. The transplant was initially successful and my doctors were optimistic, until I started to experience unexplainable and unexpected complications two weeks after the surgery. My symptoms returned, and I was again relegated to the pitch black basement. Miraculously my condition started improving in March, and despite still suffering from severe light sensitivity I requested home instruction.

Through it all, school was always a top priority for me, and despite all these challenges, I finished my junior year on time while receiving straight A’s. I continued to improve over the next several months, and eventually the light sensitivity improved enough to the point where only natural light bothered my eye, and I am now only suffering from swelling in my eyelid. I did go back to school this fall for my senior year, but am limited in my activities due to the stitches that are in my eye. I can no longer play sports, swim, or do pretty much any other physical activity, until the stitches are removed, but my doctors plan on keeping them in indefinitely.

My doctors are also considering another surgery in December to resolve the remaining symptoms. I am however much better than I was 2 years ago, and am looking forward to attending the University of Richmond next fall.

My involvement with NJ Sharing Network began about six months after my transplant when my complications subsided enough to allow me to leave the house, and I was able to participate in my first SK event along with my family. It was a very emotional experience for all of us, especially for me. During the walk I met families that donated the organs of their loves ones and was inspired by their stories and how much joy it brought them to know that they were helping others and honoring the memories of their loved ones. Also, when I walked with donor recipients like myself, I also realized that I wasn’t alone and was now bonded with so many people who shared my experience. Recently, I completed my orientation and training to serve as a Volunteer Ambassador for NJ Sharing Network.

I understand how important it is to raise money and participate in SK events and various fundraisers, but due to the shortage of organ and tissue donors, I feel that awareness is just as important, perhaps even more so. That is why I feel that the best way that I can help is to increase donor awareness by being a “Walking Advertisement ” for this worthy cause, which is so very important to me and to so many others. I feel that most people don’t fully understand this cause until they make a personal connection with someone who has experienced it, whether it be a family member, or a complete stranger. That’s why I am committed to share my story with others to make a personal connection with as many people as I can to inform them about organ and tissue donor awareness.

When I was finally able to return to high school this year, I feel that I opened the eyes of so many students and teachers about donating their organs and tissue to help save or improve the life of someone. Now, as I am beginning college in the fall, I have a whole new group of people that I can make inspire to become donors. As I said, being a “Walking Advertisement’ ‘ is a commitment that I can continue throughout my life time.

I cannot think of a better way to educate others and hopefully, increase the number of donors which improve and save the lives of many people. Currently, there are approximately 5,000 NJ residents and more than 120,000 overall on waiting lists. I was given a very generous gift in my donor cornea and want as many people as possible to have the same opportunity for a second chance. I feel that it is not only my duty, but my privilege to spread the word about organ and tissue donation. I know that I can make a difference and that is what I plan to do.

A Tale of Hope by Ron Oswick

I truly believe that fate brought my girlfriend, Tanya, and I together. We met four years ago, while we both worked at Morgan Stanley. It was then that I noticed the scar on Tanya’s chest. What Tanya later told me about the scar left me in disbelief.

Ron and Tanya

 

Tanya had received a life-saving heart transplant. After suffering from a stroke at the age of 11, she was diagnosed with Restrictive Cardiomyopathy. After the stroke, Tanya was hospitalized for three months before her family was notified that a heart had become available. She had the transplant surgery shortly after at Columbia Presbyterian in New York City. Nineteen years later, she is doing well; she recently started a career in nursing, a life-long dream, at Mount Sinai Beth Israel in New York.

Since the beginning of our relationship, Tanya and I have participated in NJ Sharing Network’s Annual 5K Walk & USATF Certified Race every year as a way to celebrate her second chance at life and give hope to all those who continue to wait for a life-saving organ transplant.

I’m emotionally hooked. I’ve never really thought about organ donation much before I met Tanya. If it weren’t for someone donating a heart 19 years ago, I wouldn’t have the love of my life today.

A Tale of Hope by Tracey Amadi

The love and generosity of my son gave me a second chance at life.

Before my transplant, I suffered from kidney cancer and had to have my right kidney removed. After going through dialysis for five years, being in the hospital 14 times within 18 months and having my gallbladder removed, I was extremely worn out.

Tracey and her son, Emmanuel

When my son, Emmanuel, first made the selfless suggestion of giving me his kidney, I declined it. I know how scared he is of needles and I wasn’t sure if my condition was hereditary. The last thing I wanted to do was put my son in danger.

I received a lot of false alarms of being “next in line” for a kidney. At this point, I couldn’t take it any longer. Emmanuel got tested and it turned out we weren’t a match. However, the paired kidney exchange program matches one incompatible donor/recipient pair to another in the same situation.
Four months later, Emmanuel and I went through the transplant process. I celebrated my one year anniversary of a new life on May 21, 2014. I am doing well and so is Emmanuel.

I recently became a volunteer with NJ Sharing Network. I feel it’s crucial to do so because I was so grateful; helping raise organ donation awareness is just one small way for me to give back.

 

I am also starting a non-profit organization, We Are Our Brother’s Keeper, which will spread education and awareness about organ donation to minorities. I recently held a luncheon gala to bring awareness to organ donation, celebrate the gift of life and share my journey with others.

I am now more driven to make people aware of organ donation and the exchange program.

A Tale of Hope by Sarah Meyers

I was born with a rare liver disease called Biliary Atresia, a condition in which there is a blockage in the tubes, or ducts, that carry bile from the liver to the gallbladder. Untreated, this disease can be fatal. So, as an infant, I underwent a Kasai procedure, which surgically bypassed my blocked ducts in order to prevent liver damage.

This procedure bought me a lot of time. Thirteen years, specifically. Thirteen years filled with regular child-like things such as play-dates with friends, summers spent at the local private swim club, the participation in activities such as dance, gymnastics, theatre, and tennis, and even vacations to places such as Disney World. There was nothing abnormal about my childhood besides the occasional doctor’s appointment, blood work, and having to take a few pills every day. But then again, every child has to go to the doctor, occasionally get blood work, and take medicine at some point whether it be to help cure a simple cold, or for more serious matters such as mine.

Things were going rather smoothly until a minor bump in the road during my year as a fifth grader. I ended up getting hospitalized for an unknown reason until it was determined that I had cholangitis. After just a few days in the Morristown Memorial Children’s Hospital, I regained my health and strength and was discharged.

Two years later, as a seventh grader, I was re-hospitalized for the same infection. I happily missed a couple of days of school, however, it was concluded that my health had taken a turn for the worst, and that things were only looking down from there. It was time we get a move on it and start investigating transplant centers.

Sarah with her parents, Steve and Lisa Meyers

At the time of my transplant there were no pediatric liver transplant facilities in the state of New Jersey, so my family was forced to search elsewhere. At first, my family and I went to Mount Sinai Hospital in NYC, but after learning that the wait time for organs was much longer in the tri-state area, and that a split-liver or living donor would likely become one of the few options, my parents started researching other centers. They found that Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, Florida had an exceptional program and so we traveled down South for an evaluation. It was then determined that I was a prime candidate for a liver transplant, and I was quickly added to the overwhelmingly large UNOS waitlist.

One short month later we received a phone call. I was eating my strawberry-flavored Special K cereal in the kitchen, preparing for one of my final days of seventh grade. My mom answered the phone. It was one of the transplant coordinators on the other line. They had a match for me. She instructed us to hop on a plane as soon as possible.

I knew it was for the best, but it had only been one month and I couldn’t have yet been prepared for this major surgery. I needed more time, and I secretly hoped that the donor wouldn’t be a match. But, knowing that we had to travel to Miami, I ran upstairs to get my pre-packed bag that I had put together in anticipation for this day. My mom, dad, and I were on a Continental Airlines flight to Miami, Florida within the next two hours.

Well, it was a match, and just a few hours later, I was in a hospital gown, sitting on the phone with my best friend while my family surrounded me. A transport nurse came in and told me it was time. I told my friend I had to go and that I’d talk to her later and hung up. What else was I supposed to say?
In the pre-op room, I was surrounded by my mom, dad, and grandmother. Soon enough, the anesthesiologist came out and told me it was time to say goodbye for now and that he’d take me into the operating room. I received a hug and a kiss from each family member, and waved goodbye, half-smiling, unsure of what other expression to give. I didn’t want them to think that I was scared. I had to be brave, for them. They had enough to deal with.

The anesthesiologist injected a calming medication into my IV. It was the first of many to make me feel like I was flying. But I still felt nervous, so he injected a bit more. I felt calm now, as calm as I could feel given the situation. I highly doubt that anyone has ever gone into an organ transplant totally Zen, but hey, if you have, then good for you! The anesthesiologist talked to me about school and his kids as he tried to sway my attention from the impending surgery.

As I was rolled into the OR, I was surrounded by several people who would be assisting with the surgery. I had complete faith in them all, especially my incredible surgeon, Dr. Kato, however, that didn’t mean that I wasn’t still scared. You never know what could happen in an operating room.
I was transferred from my rolling bed onto the warm operating table. It was a hard, flat surface, however, the heat made it mildly inviting. I glanced up at the fluorescent lights above and my mind went totally blank. Then, as the anesthesiologist allowed a steady stream of anesthesia flow into my veins, I decided to play the game I always play when I get put under. I tried to fight the anesthesia and see how long I could last. But it was only a couple of seconds and I was out like a light.
Six hours later I woke up in the ICU with several IVs and a tube down my nose. None of this was comfortable, but I was still delusional enough to not let it bother me. Soon, my parents returned to the room and were thrilled to see me awake and well.

I spent two days in the ICU until I was transferred up onto the regular transplant floor. Now, I thought the nurses in the ICU were tough, but the ones upstairs were hardcore and would not let me get away with just lying around all day long. They wanted me up and walking, practicing my breathing with this mechanism they had given me, and going to the bathroom normally. I couldn’t get away with anything.

Honestly, my biggest concern post-surgery was getting the darn tube out of my nose. I think I asked the nurses about it almost every time they came in. I’m not a persistent person like that, but I wanted this tube out.

Eventually the tube was removed, my breathing got stronger, and I was walking in circles around the transplant floor like it was my job. After a few weeks, I was discharged and got to live in an apartment in Miami with my family until I was permitted to fly home. Not a bad deal, huh?
Approximately three months post-transplant, I was told that I could return home. Once back in New Jersey, I began home-schooling until I was strong enough to return to school.

My transplant has taught me to be grateful for the life that I have, and not to take it for granted.
All I know about my donor is that he was a nine-year-old boy from Louisiana.  I’ve struggled with this fact for a long time. Wondering what makes me more worthy of life than he, but I’ve realized that I cannot think that way. Instead, I’ve realized that I must be thankful for my second chance, and to make something of myself. I want to be able to honor the young boy who passed and whose organ I received by living a long, fulfilling life. I want to be enough for the both of us. Not only must I live for myself, but I must live for him as well. His death will never be left in vain, for he saved the lives of many, and has given me the ability to live on and keep his memory alive. I truly believe that this boy lives on within me.

A Tale of Hope By Julie Nelson

The diagnosis came as a surprise. My father, Jim Rhatican, would need a liver transplant to live. Those were certainly tough words to absorb. Other than checking the box on my driver’s license since I was 17, I knew little about donating organs. Was this something people do? I prayed and prayed that people far more educated than I on this topic were out there and one of them would literally save my father’s life.

Team Rhat Pack at the 2013 NJ Sharing Network 5K

 

This feeling, of course, came with extreme guilt knowing that there were people who would have to lose a loved one, someone near and dear to them, in order to save my father’s life.

During my father’s difficult journey waiting for his transplant, my husband and I learned we were expecting our first baby and we bought our first home. I knew there was no way that my father would miss out on the chance to create new memories with his growing family.

We waited.

Christmas 2008 came and we cherished every second not knowing if we would have the chance to celebrate together the following year. Saying goodnight had never been so difficult. It was 12 hours later that he received that AMAZING call. Our real gift had come; an angel was giving my father the gift of life and giving our family the gift of the future.

Five years later…we are thankful and grateful every single day for the decision made by the family who lost their loved one and CHOSE to save our loved one’s life. We know it had to be the most difficult decision made during the most difficult time. But we could not be more appreciative. My father has seen his family grow from four grandchildren to eight! He has spent days on the beach with his family, he has seen his grandson play baseball, he has gone to dance recitals and spring concerts, and he has read to his grandchildren’s classes and has honored his weekly Pink Donut Day tradition! He has hugged his children and kissed his wife.

WE thank our angel every day for the memories we are blessed to create. My father has become involved with the organization that helped to save his life. He educates others by speaking on behalf of NJ Sharing Network about the importance of organ donation. He meets donor families and recipients and guides others through their journey. We, Team Rhat Pack, participate in NJ Sharing Network’s 5K as a celebration of Jim Rhatican’s life and as a THANK YOU to all those who have given the gift of life!

A Tale of Hope By Kathy Farrell

On Saturday, Oct. 27, 2007, at 9:20 p.m., the call came from Rowan University.

“Mrs. Farrell?” the officer said.” Your son Donnie has been assaulted. The ambulance is taking him now to Cooper University Medical Center in Camden. You need to come.”

Fueled with fear, minds in a fog, my husband and I headed to Camden. Two and a half hours later, our car pulls past the police cars lining the emergency room.

My husband, Donald, and I are ushered in and quickly swept away from Donnie’s girlfriend, but not before she says, “Donnie is out of surgery.”

I dropped to my knees to kiss the ground in thanks, only to be immediately picked up by an aide. “The doctors want to speak with you.”

We are led toward a small room near the trauma intensive care unit. My brain is screaming, “Oh no…not the little room…please don’t take us to the little room.”

Kathy Farrell speaking at Morristown Medical Center about her son, Donnie

His brain has suffered extreme damage. Prognosis grave. My husband and I were escorted into thetrauma ICU and brought to our son’s bedside. My beautiful boy. Lying there. Eyes closed. Unresponsive. Tubes, buzzers, people scurrying. How could this be?

Donald James Farrell III, the second oldest of my four children, was pronounced dead at 1:13 p.m. on Sunday afternoon.

How do you live after the murder of your precious child?

My survival from then until today was, and is, nurtured by many. Believe me; I did NOT want to survive. Every bone and every muscle in my body ached to be where my son was. But that was not fair to my other three wonderful children who I adore. It is the love of family, support of friends, care of a neighborhood, and the generosity of strangers which supports my survival.

For me to survive is to believe that God is there every step of the way. Every day that my eyes open in the morning, I pray for the strength, faith, and courage, to get through another day without my boy. I’m also strengthened by my boy’s gift of life to others. His liver, kidneys, and heart valves were donated so others could have a second chance at life.

Today, I have an awareness that I was in the throes of the fires of hell. To make it through, I must focus on the other side. Keep moving. I have to keep moving, face forward, step by step, to avoid getting stuck in the middle. If that were to happen, that I had gotten stuck, which would be very easy to do, I would not have survived. I would have been swallowed up and would have succumbed to the flames. The road that my life is taking me on now is an adventurous one. My oldest child is to be married in one month. My ‘easy button’ child is prospering. My youngest son is now moving off to college in North Carolina.

And guess what….I smile a lot at my job!