Author: Ryan Touhey

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Un vecino de Saddle River celebra un aniversario emblemático de su trasplante de hígado

(SADDLE RIVER, N.J.) — Jessica Zampieri, residente en Saddle River, celebrará el 12 de junio de 2026 el 15.º aniversario del trasplante de hígado que le salvó la vida, un hito que fue posible gracias a la generosidad de un donante de órganos, después de que ella sufriera una insuficiencia hepática aguda y necesitara urgentemente un trasplante para sobrevivir.

Hoy en día, Jessica es esposa, madre de dos niños, una profesional de éxito, escritora y una apasionada defensora de NJ Sharing Network: una prueba viviente del poder salvador de los trasplantes y del impacto duradero que tienen los donantes de órganos y tejidos y sus familias.

«Simplemente estoy agradecida de estar aquí», dijo Jessica. «Cada día lo siento como un regalo, porque sé lo cerca que estuve de perder la vida. Mi donante de órganos me dio tiempo: tiempo para enamorarme, ser madre, formar una familia y vivir todos esos momentos que antes pensaba que nunca tendría. Por eso la donación de órganos y tejidos es tan importante para mí. Saber que mi experiencia podría motivar aunque solo sea a una persona a registrarse como donante hace que compartir mi historia merezca totalmente la pena».

En 2011, Jessica era una joven sana y activa que vivía en Ohio, trabajaba a tiempo completo y se dedicaba al deporte y al bienestar cuando empezaron a aparecerle síntomas inexplicables. Con el tiempo, empezó a sufrir una fatiga extrema y, finalmente, se desmayó en el trabajo. Los médicos descubrieron que sus niveles de enzimas hepáticas estaban peligrosamente elevados y, en cuestión de días, su estado se deterioró rápidamente. La ingresaron de urgencia en el hospital y, finalmente, la trasladaron a la unidad de trasplantes, donde los médicos le comunicaron que necesitaba urgentemente un trasplante de hígado para sobrevivir.

En junio de 2011, pasó a ocupar el primer puesto en la lista nacional de espera de trasplantes. Apenas unos días después, un donante de órganos fallecido de 18 años, procedente de Ohio, le dio una segunda oportunidad de vivir.

«A menudo pienso en mi donante y en su familia», dijo Jessica. «No hay palabras suficientes para expresar la gratitud que siento por el regalo que me hicieron. Gracias a su generosidad, aquí estoy, criando a mis hijos y viviendo una vida plena».

Aunque su recuperación se vio complicada por algunas complicaciones adicionales y una segunda intervención quirúrgica de urgencia tras el trasplante, Jessica no se rindió. En cuestión de meses, volvió al trabajo y, más tarde, se trasladó a Nueva York para seguir desarrollando su carrera y aprovechar lo que ella describe como su «segunda oportunidad en la vida».

Poco después, conoció a su futuro marido, Michael. La pareja acaba de celebrar su décimo aniversario de boda y está criando a sus dos hijos, Robbie y Paulie. Jessica también ha plasmado su experiencia con el trasplante en un libro escrito para rendir homenaje a su donante, conservar su historia y animar a otras personas a inscribirse como donantes de órganos y tejidos.

«Cuando echo la vista atrás y pienso en todo lo que ha pasado, me doy cuenta de lo rápido que puede cambiar la vida. Esa perspectiva ha marcado mi forma de vivir y de afrontar cada oportunidad que se me ha presentado», afirmó Jessica. «A lo largo de los años, he conocido a muchísima gente cuyas vidas se han visto afectadas por la donación y el trasplante de órganos y tejidos. Es una comunidad unida por la resiliencia y por la conciencia de lo preciosa que es realmente la vida».

Según la Red Unida para el Intercambio de Órganos (UNOS) y la Red de Intercambio de Nueva Jersey, más de 100 000 estadounidenses —entre ellos, casi 4000 residentes de Nueva Jersey— esperan actualmente un trasplante de órganos que les salve la vida. Para obtener más información sobre la donación de órganos y tejidos o para registrarse como donante, visite www.NJSharingNetwork.org.

FOTO 1 – Jessica y el Dr. Michael Zampieri con sus hijos, Robbie y Paulie (Crédito de la foto: Cortesía de NJ Sharing Network)

FOTO 2 – Jessica y el Dr. Michael Zampieri (Crédito de la foto: Cortesía de NJ Sharing Network)

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Debbie Prince, nombrada presidenta del Consejo de Administración de la Fundación Sharing Network

(NORTH CALDWELL, N.J.) — North Caldwell resident Debbie Prince has been named Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Sharing Network Foundation, further strengthening her longtime commitment to advancing organ and tissue donation and transplantation. Prince will help lead the Foundation’s strategic efforts to raise philanthropic funds for clinical advancement, family support, public awareness and education about the lifesaving impact of organ and tissue donation and transplantation. The Foundation’s Board of Trustees is comprised of a diverse group of individuals from both public and private sectors, many of whom have been touched by donation, including donor families and transplant recipients.

Prince has been involved with NJ Sharing Network and the Sharing Network Foundation since her son Sam Prince’s lifesaving heart transplant in 2011. April marked the 15th anniversary of Sam’s transplant journey — a milestone the Prince family celebrates with gratitude while continuing to give back through volunteerism, fundraising, and public advocacy.

“Fifteen years ago, our family received the greatest gift imaginable when Sam received his heart transplant,” said Prince. “Before his transplant, Sam couldn’t go to birthday parties, play on the playground, or even walk up the stairs without struggling to breathe. The gift of organ donation changed everything for our family and gave Sam the chance to truly live and thrive. Sam recently graduated from college — a milestone that never would have been possible without the gift of life he received. We got our lives back, and we’ve dedicated ourselves ever since to helping other families experience that same hope. I am honored to serve as Chair of the Sharing Network Foundation Board and continue supporting this lifesaving mission.”

Prince previously served as Vice Chair of the Sharing Network Foundation Board and has been deeply involved in the organization’s community outreach, fundraising efforts, and Foundation-funded initiatives.

“Debbie’s leadership, compassion, and authentic connection to our mission make her an extraordinary choice to serve as Chair of the Sharing Network Foundation Board,” said Amanda Tibok, Executive Director of the Sharing Network Foundation. “Her advocacy continues to inspire our entire community, and we are grateful for her continued commitment to helping save and enhance lives.”

The Prince family has become widely known throughout the NJ Sharing Network community for their enthusiastic participation in the annual 5K Celebration of Life. Their team, Max’s Mitzvah Movers, once again will participate in this year’s event.

“The 5K Celebration of Life is one of the most inspiring days of the year because it brings together donor families, transplant recipients, people waiting for a transplant, and supporters from across the community,” Prince added. “Our Max’s Mitzvah Movers team began as a mitzvah project started by our older son, Max, after Sam’s transplant, and it has grown into an incredible way for our family and friends to honor donor heroes and advocate for organ and tissue donation together.”

NJ Sharing Network’s 5K Celebration of Life Walk and USATF Sanctioned Race will be held on Sunday, June 7, 2026, at NJ Sharing Network headquarters in New Providence, NJ. The event is one of the Garden State’s largest and most recognized charitable 5K events, bringing together thousands of participants to honor the gift of life and support the Sharing Network Foundation. To sign up to participate in the 5K Celebration of Life or contribute to a team, visit www.SharingNetworkFoundation.org/5K.

Según la Red Unida para el Intercambio de Órganos (UNOS) y la Red de Intercambio de Nueva Jersey, más de 100 000 estadounidenses —entre ellos, casi 4000 residentes de Nueva Jersey— esperan actualmente un trasplante de órganos que les salve la vida. Para obtener más información sobre la donación de órganos y tejidos o para registrarse como donante, visite www.NJSharingNetwork.org.

PHOTO 1 – Debbie Prince (Photo Credit: Courtesy of NJ Sharing Network)

PHOTO 2 – The Prince Family – (l-r) Max, Sam, Debbie, and Mitch (Photo Credit: Courtesy of NJ Sharing Network)

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NJ Sharing Network rinde homenaje a los voluntarios y a los socios comunitarios

(NEW PROVIDENCE, NJ) – NJ Sharing Network, the federally designated nonprofit organization responsible for the recovery of donated organs and tissue in New Jersey, recently honored several local residents and organizations for their exceptional volunteer service during its 2026 Volunteer Appreciation Reception, held at its headquarters in New Providence.

“Every day, our volunteers turn compassion into action,” said Ametra Burton, Manager of Strategic Partnerships at NJ Sharing Network. “They build vital bridges between our mission and the communities we serve. Their dedication inspires people to register as organ and tissue donors and ultimately helps save lives.”

The following Volunteer Recognition Awards were presented during the event:

• Community Hero Awards – This year’s awards were presented to LaVise McCray of Jersey City and Janice Campbell of West Orange for using their creativity and compassion to inspire others to say “yes” to organ and tissue donation. LaVise, a retired Jersey City public school teacher, said she is “paying it forward” after her life was saved when she received a lifesaving kidney transplant. Janice is a well-known community advocate who became heavily involved with NJ Sharing Network after her daughter, Dr. Jamila Irons-Johnson, passed away in 2013 and became an organ donor.

• Youth Volunteer of the Year – This year’s award was presented to Alex Chomiak of New Providence for his outstanding efforts in raising awareness about organ and tissue donation at New Providence High School and mobilizing his fellow classmates to volunteer with NJ Sharing Network.

• Media Champion Award – This year’s award was presented to Bobbie Peer, Publisher of TAPinto Berkeley Heights and TAPinto New Providence, for her consistent and compassionate storytelling highlighting the impact of organ and tissue donation. Bobbie’s news coverage has amplified the voices of local donor families and transplant recipients, helping educate the public about organ and tissue donation and transplantation.

• Community Partner Award – This year’s award was presented to Iris House in Plainfield, a nonprofit organization dedicated to saving lives through comprehensive support, prevention, and education services for women, families, and underserved communities affected by HIV/AIDS and other health disparities. Iris House was honored for its impactful collaboration and continued support of NJ Sharing Network’s public education efforts.

• Jim Rhatican Legacy Award – This year’s award was presented to Jenny Godnick of Hightstown for continuing the legacy of longtime volunteer Jim Rhatican, a liver transplant recipient who inspired thousands of students through NJ Sharing Network’s High School Heroes Program. Jenny is a living kidney donor who was recognized for her efforts in speaking to high school students throughout the state about the importance of organ and tissue donation while sharing her personal experience.

• Wrapped In Love Volunteer of the Year – This year’s award was presented to Jo Facciolli of Lacey in recognition of the countless hours to crochet and knit beautiful shawls and lap blankets for organ and tissue donor families. Through NJ Sharing Network’s Wrapped in Love program, volunteers create handmade pieces that provide warmth, comfort, and a lasting expression of love serving as powerful reminders that donors are forever honored and their families are forever supported.

NJ Sharing Network is a federally designated nonprofit organization committed to saving and enhancing lives through the recovery of donated organs and tissue. Headquartered in New Providence, NJ Sharing Network partners with 54 local hospitals to give hope to nearly 4,000 New Jersey residents awaiting lifesaving organ transplants, while also supporting the national effort to help more than 100,000 people on the U.S. transplant waiting list. With more than three million New Jerseyans registered as organ and tissue donors, NJ Sharing Network is recognized as one of the nation’s leading organ procurement organizations (OPOs). In 2025, New Jersey donors made possible a record 2,026 organ, cornea, and tissue donations — the highest combined total in the organization’s history.

To learn more, get involved, or register as an organ and tissue donor, visit www.NJSharingNetwork.org.

A group of NJ Sharing Network team members and award honorees gathered for a photo during the 2026 Volunteer Appreciation Reception in New Providence. The event celebrated the dedication and impact of volunteers and community partners who support NJ Sharing Network’s lifesaving mission. Pictured left to right: Joseph Yaccarino (NJ Sharing Network), Ametra Burton (NJ Sharing Network), Vanessa Chomiak (accepting the Youth Volunteer Award for son Alex Chomiak), Janice Campbell (Community Hero Award), LaVise McCray (Community Hero Award), Ingrid Floyd and Audria Russell of Iris House (Community Partner Award), Bobbie Peer of TAPinto Berkeley Heights and TAPinto New Providence (Media Champion Award), and Amy Young (NJ Sharing Network). Also honored but not pictured: Jo Facciolli (Wrapped in Love Volunteer Award) and Jenny Godnick (Jim Rhatican Legacy Award). (PHOTO CREDIT – Courtesy of NJ Sharing Network)

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Una enfermera de Carteret que donó un riñón a su padre encabezará un equipo en una carrera de 5 km

(Carteret, NJ) – When Karen Stash, RN, crosses the finish line at NJ Sharing Network’s 5K Celebration of Life on Sunday, June 7, 2026, she will be celebrating far more than a race. She will be honoring the gift of life, the power of family, and the lifesaving decision she made to donate one of her kidneys to save her father’s life.

Karen, a Carteret resident and captain of the Hackensack Meridian Health – JFK University Medical Center 5K team, serves on the hospital’s Rapid Response Team. She has proudly led her coworkers, family members, and friends at the annual event held at NJ Sharing Network’s headquarters in New Providence.

“This event means everything to me,” said Karen. “Every year, I run the 5K and then walk it again with my team and family. I’m proud to stand with others whose lives have been touched by organ and tissue donation and transplantation.”

Karen’s personal journey began when her father, Oscar Salgado of Union City, was diagnosed with kidney failure and required dialysis treatments three times a week. Once a hardworking and independent provider devoted to his wife and four children, Oscar’s health declined as dialysis took a heavy toll on his body and spirit.

Seeing her father struggle, Karen knew she wanted to help. As a nurse, she understood the lifesaving impact of organ donation and quietly began the process of being evaluated as a living donor.

“I already knew organ donation could change someone’s life,” said Karen. “But when it’s your dad sitting in that dialysis chair, it becomes deeply personal. I wanted to give him more time, more freedom, and the chance to feel like himself again.”

After extensive testing, Karen learned she was a match. On November 14, 2018, father and daughter underwent transplant surgery, and Oscar was able to come off dialysis immediately.

“First and foremost, I thank my Father, Jehovah, for His great mercy toward me,” said Oscar. “I also thank my daughter Karen for giving me another chance at life—in addition to those God has already granted me. May God protect my daughter and grant her abundant health, many years of life, and great blessings.”

Karen said watching her father regain his strength and independence has been one of the greatest joys of her life.

“To see him no longer tied to dialysis, to watch him enjoy time with my mom, my children, and our family again — that’s everything,” said Karen. “If I had to make the choice again, I would do it in a heartbeat.”

Since her donation, Karen has embraced advocacy and proudly shares her story to raise awareness about the need for organ donors, especially within Hispanic communities where conversations about donation can sometimes be less common.

“I want people to know that organ and tissue donation saves families,” said Karen. “It’s not just about adding years to someone’s life — it’s about adding life to their years.”

Now entering another year as captain of the JFK University Medical Center 5K team, Karen is looking forward to once again joining thousands of donor families, transplant recipients, living donors, and supporters at the 5K Celebration of Life.

NJ Sharing Network’s 5K Celebration of Life Walk and USATF Sanctioned Race will be held on Sunday, June 7, 2026, at NJ Sharing Network headquarters in New Providence, NJ. The event is one of the Garden State’s largest and most recognized charitable 5K events, bringing together thousands of participants to honor the gift of life and support the Sharing Network Foundation. To sign up to participate in the 5K Celebration of Life or contribute to a team, visit www.SharingNetworkFoundation.org/5K

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 living kidney donation and deceased organ and tissue donation, visit NJ Sharing Network’s website at www.NJSharingNetwork.org.

PHOTO CAPTION #1 – Karen Stash, RN, and her father, Oscar Salgado (Photo Credit: Courtesy of NJ Sharing Network)

PHOTO CAPTION #2 – Members of JFK University Medical Center’s 5K Celebration of Life team (Photo Credit: Courtesy of NJ Sharing Network)

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La familia Denville rinde homenaje al legado de Adam Bleznick

(Denville, NJ) – Two years after the sudden passing of Denville resident Adam Bleznick, his family is turning grief into purpose by coming together for NJ Sharing Network’s 5K Celebration of Life Walk and USATF Sanctioned Race on Sunday, June 7, 2026, in New Providence. Led by his wife, Emmie, the 5K team “Adam’s Warriors” honors Adam’s life and the legacy he left behind as an eye and tissue donor.

For Emmie and the couple’s 5-year-old son, Noah, the annual event has become a meaningful way to celebrate Adam while keeping his memory alive.

“Adam was everything to us — an incredible husband, an amazing father, and truly my best friend,” said Emmie. “Participating in NJ Sharing Network’s 5K Celebration of Life gives us a way to honor him while also showing Noah how much his dad is still making a difference in the lives of others. It’s important to me that Noah grows up knowing who his father was and how many people he touched. Raising awareness about organ and tissue donation is so important. We hope more people will consider registering as donors so they can give others a second chance at life.”

Adam passed away in June 2024 at the age of 40. Born in Morristown and raised in Clifton and Wayne, Adam was known for his vibrant personality, quick wit, and deep passion for life. A graduate of Wayne Valley High School and Fairleigh Dickinson University, he built a career that reflected his diverse interests — from communications and sports to his true passion for wine and spirits. Above all else, Adam cherished his role as a husband and father. He and Emmie built a life together filled with love and laughter — from their marriage in 2016 to welcoming Noah in 2020 and settling into their home in the Indian Lake community.

“The bond Adam shared with Noah was something really special,” said Emmie. “They loved going on walks, singing songs, and just being silly together. Adam brought so much joy into our lives, and that’s what we carry with us every day.”

Through “Adam’s Warriors,” Emmie, Noah, and a growing group of family members and friends proudly participate in the 5K, united in remembrance and purpose.

“Last year was our first time participating in the 5K, and it meant so much to be surrounded by people who understand loss but also celebrate the gift of life,” said Emmie. “This event is incredibly powerful — it reminds us that even in the hardest moments, there is hope and there is healing.”

NJ Sharing Network’s 5K Celebration of Life Walk and USATF Sanctioned Race will be held on Sunday, June 7, 2026, at NJ Sharing Network headquarters in New Providence, NJ. The event is one of the Garden State’s largest and most recognized charitable 5K events, bringing together thousands of participants to honor the gift of life and support the Sharing Network Foundation. To sign up to participate in the 5K Celebration of Life or contribute to a team, visit www.SharingNetworkFoundation.org/5K.

Según la Red Unida para el Intercambio de Órganos (UNOS) y la Red de Intercambio de Nueva Jersey, más de 100 000 estadounidenses —entre ellos, casi 4000 residentes de Nueva Jersey— esperan actualmente un trasplante de órganos que les salve la vida. Para obtener más información sobre la donación de órganos y tejidos o para registrarse como donante, visite www.NJSharingNetwork.org.

PHOTO #1 – Adam Bleznick (Photo Credit: Courtesy of NJ Sharing Network)

PHOTO #2 – Emmie and Adam Bleznick with their son, Noah Bleznick (Photo Credit: Courtesy of NJ Sharing Network)

PHOTO #3 – Members of the “Adam’s Warriors” 5K team at NJ Sharing Network’s 5K Celebration of Life in June 2025 (Photo Credit: Courtesy of NJ Sharing Network)