Mission Moments

A friend participated in our 5K, and her mother, who runs a health care foundation, heard such positive things about NJ Sharing Network that she decided to donate. It was a wonderful reminder that the work we do reaches far beyond our own organization.

As someone new to NJ Sharing Network, seeing the teamwork that goes into supporting a donor family and helping save lives showed me that I am exactly where I am meant to be. It made our mission feel very real.

During onboarding on July 31, 2026, I registered as an organ donor. Working here has made the mission personal for me in a way I never expected.

My nephew once wore a green wristband and told me, “It’s for you.” That small moment gave me a very personal connection to the mission and reminded me how many people are touched by donation.

After 17 years in Finance, attending my first Donor Remembrance Ceremony was incredibly moving. Meeting donor families and hearing their stories gave me an entirely different perspective on the work we do.

Being at the Live Healthy and Move event reminded me of the strong connection between our organization and the communities we serve. It was inspiring to see people come together around health and giving back.

While at Morristown Medical Center wearing my NJ Sharing Network sweater, a nurse recognized the organization and told me how much she enjoys working with us. It was a simple interaction, but it was a great reminder that our hospital partnerships really matter.

At the gym, I met a woman wearing an NJ Sharing Network bracelet. She told me she was honoring her son’s 11-year-old friend, who became a donor. Hearing how that young person’s legacy continues to touch others was incredibly powerful.

At the Tyler Rodimer plaque unveiling, I was reminded of the healing that can come to donor families when they see their loved one’s legacy honored and remembered.

At an airport in Florida, I met a driver who had transported donated organs. He described knowing that a heart was beating on a portable pump as he drove. It was an incredible reminder that the mission continues far beyond the hospital.

A funeral home director in New Brunswick shared that someone close to him had become a donor through Gift of Life. He was so moved by the experience that he plans to bring his colleagues to tour NJ Sharing Network.

I met a recent heart recipient from another state who desperately wanted to thank her donor family. Being able to connect her with Family Services showed me just how meaningful that connection can be.

A Rotary Club member told me his daughter had been a donor 30 years ago. We discovered a quilt square created in her memory, and seeing the joy it brought to her father and family was incredibly meaningful.

I have experienced both sides of donation. My father received a lung transplant, and my aunt was a donor. Every time I hug my dad, I am reminded of the gift that made our time together possible.

During a move, I met a mover wearing a Donate Life bracelet for a friend who died at the Jersey Shore and became a donor. She recognized me from a flag-raising ceremony. It was an unexpected reminder of how connected our community really is.

At a Donor Remembrance Ceremony, I found myself comforting a donor’s daughter in the hallway. There were no words needed. Being there with her in that moment was enough.

I helped screen a case with our tissue partner where dementia was initially a concern. Working together, we were able to accept the donor and honor the family’s wishes. It was a powerful reminder of the importance of every opportunity to give.

As a new employee, I explained our mission to a friend after she shared a negative experience she had read about on NJ.com. By the end of our conversation, she was impressed by what we do and wanted to learn more.

During a Palisades case involving 28-year-old registered donor Davion, the family praised NJ Sharing Network and the hospital and created a beautiful photo tribute. Their experience even inspired someone else to register as a donor.

Reuniting with donor families at the Donor Remembrance Ceremony was incredibly meaningful. Hearing families share how encouraging words from our team helped them reminded me of the importance of being there for them.

My previous work in dialysis and the transplant calls I experienced have given me a personal connection to the mission. My father, Roberto J., is also on dialysis, which makes the need for donation especially meaningful to me.

While grocery shopping, a cashier recognized my NJ Sharing Network sweater. She told me that her niece had been a donor and that her family attends our 5Ks. It was a beautiful reminder that the mission is part of so many families’ lives.

During a difficult conversation with a donor’s wife, she thanked our team and said, “Bless you… God loves you. I’m sure He does.” Her words stayed with me and reminded me of the trust families place in us during the hardest moments of their lives.

Martha Goodoy worked with a donor family on memory making using painted rocks and fingerprints. Seeing the care she put into helping the family create something meaningful was an incredible example of the support we provide.

At a nail salon, I met a seven-year kidney transplant recipient. Hearing her story and seeing her gratitude gave me a wonderful perspective on the transplant side of our mission.

A tissue recovery reminded me of the generosity of donors and their families. Every recovery is a testament to the incredible gift families make possible during a difficult time.

Seeing the Foundation’s grants in action, especially the work of Transplant Teenz, founded by a 14-year-old heart recipient, showed me how our mission continues to support and inspire people long after transplantation.

A donor’s husband told us how much Stephanie cared for their children and explained to them that “mommy was going to be a hero.” Hearing how our team helped children understand their mother’s gift was incredibly moving.

A meaningful welcome and surprise at work made me feel like I truly belonged at NJ Sharing Network. It reminded me that the mission is also about the people who come together every day to make it possible.

During an organ donation case at Chilton Hospital, five healthcare professionals each shared their own connection to donation. Hearing their stories showed just how many lives are touched by our mission.

At the veterinarian, I met a receptionist named MaryAnn whose stepson Marcus had been part of one of my previous donor cases. It was an emotional and unexpected reunion that showed me how our work stays with people long after a case is over.

The work can be incredibly hard, but knowing that we are helping grieving families and giving hope to others makes it meaningful. The mission is what keeps me going.

Patrick and Alana worked together to find a new transplant center for a donated heart after the original center declined it. Their quick thinking helped save a life while honoring the donor and the gift that had been entrusted to us.

Seeing the approach, allocation and flag raising for the same donor for the first time brought everything full circle for me. It was a powerful opportunity to see the mission come together from beginning to end.