Message from Councilwoman Elizabeth Stamler | April 12, 2024
Happy National Donate Life Month!
Every year on April 12, I am proud to join in the national celebration to support organ and tissue donation by wearing blue and green. It is my opportunity to help spread awareness in Scotch Plains for Donate Life Month, a dedicated period each April to raise awareness about organ, eye, and tissue donation – truly the “gift of life.”
This crucial initiative goes beyond just spreading information; it's a month to celebrate the incredible power of donation and inspire more people to register as donors. At our next council meeting on April 16, we will be doing a proclamation for Donate Life Month.
Locally, I am proud to be a volunteer since 2010 for NJ Sharing Network, our organ procurement organization headquartered in New Providence. This superb non-profit organization is squarely focused on educating the public about the importance of organ and tissue donation, expressing appreciation to donors and their families, who show such generosity and selflessness for their life saving gifts, and celebrating those who have received the gift of life.
Organ donation has touched my family in several ways, as I am both a recipient family member and donor family member. I am also fortunate to know several incredible living donors - people who donate a kidney or portion of their liver while they are alive, either to someone they know or altruistically (to a complete stranger).
In 2023, NJ Sharing Network coordinated the transplant of a record-breaking 715 organs, the most ever in the organization's 36-year history. For the families of those who receive the gift of life, it means more time together, more memories to create, and more moments to cherish. Nationally, more than 46,000 transplants from 23,000 donors brought renewed life to patients in 2023.
Despite the success, NJ Sharing Network is quick to remind the public that tens of thousands of Americans are now on waiting lists for lifesaving organ transplants, including nearly 4,000 from New Jersey. It is a key reason that Donate Life Month is so important, shining a light on the critical need for organ donation and why the work must continue all throughout the year.
A single organ donor can save up to eight lives, while a tissue donor has the potential to improve the lives of more than 100 people. By registering as a donor, you, too, offer a beacon of hope to those desperately waiting for a second chance.
It is also an important time to dispel misconceptions - which prompt many to turn down the potential opportunity to become an organ donor. For instance, organ donation does not affect funeral arrangements, and very few medical conditions automatically disqualify someone from being a donor. Additionally, donation costs nothing to the donor's family. Most major religions support organ donation.
NJ Sharing Network shares organ donation stories to showcase the incredible impact a single person's decision can have. Families of recipients share their gratitude through the NJ Sharing Network, while donor families find solace knowing their loved one's legacy lives on. This shared experience fosters empathy and encourages more people to consider becoming donors.
Don’t let this month slip by without having important discussions with your family regarding donation wishes, ensuring everyone understands your decision. We can all continue to make a positive difference in our community, even after we are no longer here.
Through Donate Life Month, please consider registering as organ, eye, and tissue donors. This can be done easily online at NJSN.org, through NJ Motor Vehicle Services, or even through your health app on your iPhone! You can visit NJSN.org for more information, or email me!
