Author: Gary Imhoff

As support for organ and tissue donation continues to grow, organ transplants are saving more lives than ever before in the Garden State.

NJ Sharing Network, the federally-designated nonprofit organization responsible for the recovery of donated organs and tissue in the state, announced that 92 organs were transplanted in September 2022 – the most ever in a single month in New Jersey. The 92 organs transplanted included 46 kidneys, 20 livers, 13 hearts, 10 lungs and 3 pancreases. New Jersey’s previous record for organs transplanted in a month was 82 – the new record is a 12% increase.

This life-saving transplant milestone underscores a clear trend of growing support for organ and tissue donation in the Garden State. Last year, the number of organ donors in New Jersey reached an all-time high for the third consecutive year. More than 2.7 million New Jerseyans are registered as organ and tissue donors, ranking New Jersey #4 in percentage of state population on the National Donate Life Registry.

“We are saving more lives than ever before through organ and tissue donation and transplantation thanks to the generosity of those in New Jersey. First and foremost, we thank and honor our donor heroes who generously gave the gift of life, as well as their supportive families. The miracle of donation and transplantation would not be possible without the dedicated support and expertise of our clinical staff and hospital partners,” said Joseph S. Roth, President and Chief Executive Officer, NJ Sharing Network.

During the past five years, NJ Sharing Network has increased its family support efforts within local hospitals as team members approached 60% more families to offer the opportunity for their loved ones to become organ donors. NJ Sharing Network team members and volunteers have also boosted education and outreach efforts in diverse communities throughout the state.

“Our dedicated staff is fortunate to be supported by a wide range of community volunteers and partners who are committed to help save lives and improve the health and wellbeing of our neighbors. Together, we offer compassionate care and support to donor families during their most difficult times of grief,” said Carolyn M. Welsh, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer (COO) of NJ Sharing Network.

According to United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), 68% of the New Jersey residents waiting for a life-saving transplant are people of color. NJ Sharing Network earned the prestigious NJBIZ 2021 Healthcare Heroes Award in recognition of its #DonationNeedsDiversity awareness initiative, which is credited with helping to build community trust and dispelling misinformation about donation and transplantation in urban, multicultural communities with the most residents waiting for transplant. The New Jersey Chamber of Commerce and the African American Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey also recently honored NJ Sharing Network’s President and CEO Joseph S. Roth as a “Champion of Diversity” for his accomplishments and for leading NJ Sharing Network’s #DonationNeedsDiversity awareness initiative.

According to UNOS, there are over 100,000 Americans – nearly 4,000 of whom live in New Jersey – waiting for a life-saving transplant. One organ and tissue donor can save eight lives and enhance the lives of over 75 others.

Thank you to all the generous organ donor heroes and their families here in New Jersey, along with our hospital partners, volunteers, supporters, advocates and NJSN staff members who helped make this possible. We made life-saving history together! 💚💙
In honor of this momentous occasion, let’s remember there is still more work to be done to ensure those on the waiting list are transplanted.

Please share the news and ask everyone you know to register as an organ and tissue donor today at NJSharingNetwork.org/Register.

Learn more about the #LivingItForward initiative at LivingItForward.org. #1MillionTransplants

Throughout the month and year round, our #DonationNeedsDiversity initiative honors the generosity of multicultural donors and their families, while also underscoring the critical need for people from diverse communities to register as organ and tissue donors. Click here to learn more and get involved.

ESPN’s award winning My Wish series returned for its 15th season featuring heart transplant recipient and NJ Sharing Network volunteer Sam Prince! In April, Sam had his wish granted by the Make-A-Wish-Foundation to announce the NJ Giants first round pick at the NFL draft and his exciting and inspiring appearance went viral!

Leonard Petruska, 82, is taking time to reflect on the gift of life and the miracle of organ and tissue donation and transplantation as he celebrates 22 years since his life-saving liver transplant. Over the years, Leonard has also made it a priority to support donation and transplantation and by sharing his story with others, Leonard has encouraged more people to register as organ and tissue donors.

The following was written by Leonard to detail his liver transplant journey and highlight life’s precious moments made possible thanks to the gift of life.

In 1998, my life was great. I was the Eastern Regional Sales Manager for Nash Engineering, and my wife, Arlene, was a vice president of a large advertising company. We were proud that our three children, Alayne, Lenore, and Beth had graduated college and were gainfully employed. We were preparing to enjoy the upcoming Memorial Day weekend.

On the Thursday before the holiday weekend, while out doing errands, I suddenly felt sick to my stomach and was bringing up blood. I left my car at the store, got a ride home and rested instead of going to the hospital. Unbeknownst to me, my daughter Beth spoke with my doctor who called me and ordered me to the hospital. It was soon discovered that I had a bleed in my liver and my pancreas failed. I was put into a drug induced coma. Thirteen days later, I woke up in the CCU and was very confused.

Several months later, I was told to get my affairs in order because I had only about 12 months to live. I desperately needed a liver transplant and was added to the transplant waiting list. I attended transplant support groups to help me cope with a wide range of emotions, including a feeling of guilt that another person would have to die for me to receive the gift of life.

During the Memorial Day weekend in 2000, Thomas Sozzi, a local business owner and amateur drag race car driver, was on his way home from parking his business truck when he was hit head-on by a school bus filled with school children and was airlifted to the trauma center at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in critical condition. Thomas and his wife, Tracey, had a close friend who died awaiting a kidney transplant, so they were aware of the importance of donation. Tracey recalled Thomas saying if something ever happened to him, he would want his organs donated so others might live.

The following months were filled with recovery and rehabilitation. I was incredibly grateful for being given a second chance at life. Life took on a new meaning. I was more in love with my family and friends. Reading and music took on new importance. Everything about everything took on new dimensions and appreciation.

I felt compelled to write my donor family with the support of the NJ Sharing Network team. I remember that I wanted to make sure they received my letter just before Thanksgiving. On Thanksgiving Day, Tracey called me and was happy to hear from me. We ended our conversation making plans for our families to meet the day after Christmas and we did – Arlene and I, our three daughters, and two grandchildren. We all remain in close contact and Thomas and his family will always be in our hearts and prayers.

A few years later, Tracey and I teamed up to do a volunteer presentation for NJ Sharing Network at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital. She brought me to their trauma unit to do a little ‘show and tell’ for the staff so they could see me in person. Tracey showed them the miracle of organ donation and transplantation.

In all these years since my life-saving transplant, it is easy to forget my wait for this transplant until bedtime when I thank God and pray for Thomas and Tracey Sozzi, and their children Thomas, Nicole and Anthony.

Apart from general organ transplant protocol, I have led quite a normal life. I have seen my first daughter Alayne Morena raise Dan and Gabrielle as a single mom. I have seen Dan start a new company and marry Julie who is going to make me a great grandfather soon. Gabrielle became an NICU nurse and is in a relationship with Garrett. Another daughter Lenore prospered in large corporations spending several assignments in India. And to see my daughter Beth get married to Bob Pickell and raise Jack as well as twins, Cooper and Shane. And lastly, to spend more life with my love, my wife of 58 years, Arlene.

It was especially exciting for me to see Tracey get married to Michael Wilson and have a son, Michael. And every day, I remember that all these precious moments were made possible thanks to the gift of life.

(Left-to-Right) Arlene Petruska, Tracey Sozzi Wilson, and Leonard Petruska

Please register today as an organ and tissue donor. 💚💙

We are so proud and honored to be recognized by NJBIZ as one of the Best Places to Work in New Jersey for the fifth consecutive year!

As we celebrate 35 years of saving lives through organ and tissue donation, we give thanks to our staff whose dedication and compassion make our organization such a special place and our community of supporters for helping to make our life-saving mission possible. 💚💙

We are pleased to announce the appointment of Jeffrey A. Miskoff, DO, of Toms River, to the role of full-time Medical Director. Dr. Miskoff will oversee clinical management of potential organ and tissue donors and lead education efforts at donor hospitals.

“Dr. Miskoff is an experienced and enthusiastic healthcare leader who adds extensive administrative and clinical experience to our dedicated team,” said Carolyn M. Welsh, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of NJ Sharing Network. “He is a welcome addition to our NJ Sharing Network family joining Dr. John Radomski, who has served as Medical Director since 2005 and will continue in a part-time role focused on transplant center processes and surgical procedures. We look forward to working collaboratively to reach new heights in saving lives through organ and tissue donation.”

Dr. Miskoff specializes in Critical Care Medicine, Pulmonary Medicine, and Sleep Medicine. He currently serves as an assistant professor at Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine and a clinical instructor at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey – Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.

“I am honored to be a part of NJ Sharing Network’s mission to give hope for those waiting for a life-saving transplant,” said Dr. Miskoff. “I look forward to collaborating with our clinical team and healthcare partners to lead us to new heights in organ and tissue donation and transplantation.”

Dr. Miskoff was a Senior Partner at Shore Pulmonary, P.A. for 17 years. He also served as Chief of Pulmonary Medicine at Hackensack Meridian Health Jersey Shore University Medical Center for 10 years. Dr. Miskoff received his medical degree from Kansas City University. He completed his residency at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine and Fellowship at Beth Israel Medical Center in New York.

35 years ago, NJ Sharing Network was established with nine employees dedicated to our life-saving mission. Our team has grown to over 200 compassionate staff members, but our mission remains the same: saving and enhancing lives through organ and tissue donation and honoring our donors and their families for their generous gift of life.

Thank you to our hospital partners, volunteers, advocates and members of our donation community for 35 years of support. We couldn’t do what we do without you.

Read more about our 35 years of saving and enhancing lives through organ and tissue donation.