(SADDLE RIVER, N.J.) — Saddle River resident Jessica Zampieri will celebrate the 15-year anniversary of her lifesaving liver transplant on June 12, 2026 — a milestone made possible by the generosity of an organ donor after she suffered acute liver failure and urgently needed a transplant to survive.
Today, Jessica is a wife, mother of two boys, successful professional, author, and passionate advocate for NJ Sharing Network — living proof of the lifesaving power of transplantation and the lasting impact of organ and tissue donors and their families.
“I’m just grateful to be here,” said Jessica. “Every single day feels like a gift because I know how close I came to losing my life. My organ donor gave me time — time to fall in love, become a mother, build a family, and experience all of the moments I once thought I’d never have. This is why organ and tissue donation matters so much to me. Knowing my experience could motivate even one person to register as a donor makes sharing my story entirely worthwhile.”
In 2011, Jessica was a healthy, active young woman living in Ohio, working full-time and focused on fitness and wellness when unexplained symptoms began to appear. Over time, she experienced extreme fatigue and eventually collapsed at work. Doctors discovered her liver enzyme levels were dangerously elevated, and within days her condition rapidly deteriorated. She was rushed to the hospital and ultimately transferred to the transplant unit, where doctors informed her she urgently needed a liver transplant to survive.
In June 2011, she was placed at the top of the national transplant waiting list. Just days later, an 18-year-old deceased organ donor from Ohio gave her a second chance at life.
“I often think about my donor and his family,” said Jessica. “There are never enough words to express the gratitude I feel for the gift they gave me. Because of their selflessness, I’m here raising my children and living a full life.”
Although her recovery included additional complications and a second emergency surgery following the transplant, Jessica persevered. Within months, she returned to work and later relocated to New York City to continue pursuing her career and embrace what she describes as her “second chance at life.”
Not long afterward, she met her future husband, Michael. The couple recently celebrated their 10-year wedding anniversary and are raising their two sons, Robbie and Paulie. Jessica also chronicled her transplant journey in a book written to honor her donor, preserve her story, and encourage others to register as organ and tissue donors.
“When I look back on everything that happened, I’m reminded how quickly life can change. That perspective has shaped the way I live and approach every opportunity I’ve been given,” said Jessica. “Over the years, I’ve met so many people whose lives have been touched by organ and tissue donation and transplantation. It’s a community connected by resilience and an understanding of how precious life truly is.”
According to the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) and NJ Sharing Network, more than 100,000 Americans — including nearly 4,000 New Jerseyans — are currently waiting for a lifesaving organ transplant. To learn more about organ and tissue donation or to register as a donor, visit www.NJSharingNetwork.org.
PHOTO 1 – Jessica and Dr. Michael Zampieri with their children, Robbie and Paulie (Photo Credit: Courtesy of NJ Sharing Network)
PHOTO 2 – Jessica and Dr. Michael Zampieri (Photo Credit: Courtesy of NJ Sharing Network)