From the Gift of Life Donor Program its President and CEO, Rick Hasz, Volunteer and ‘Donor Dad’ Gary Stever, and Volunteer Ambassador and heart recipient Earl Jones, discussed the largest organ procurement organization (OPO) in the nation, serving more than 11.3 million people across the eastern half of Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey and Delaware and coordinating more organ and tissue donors than anywhere else in the US.
Rick explains that GOF helps save lives by coordinating the recovery and distribution of organs and tissues used in life-saving and life-enhancing transplants. Each organ donor can save up to eight lives while a single tissue donor can impact up to 100. Gary explained that skin is used for burn and reconstructive surgery patients, corneas can restore sight, bone can repair fractures and prevent amputations, and heart valves repair defects, to name a few uses of donated tissues. Organ donors can donate their heart, intestines, kidneys, pancreas and lungs.
Gift of Life is the link between individuals and families who make the decision to donate, and those who need a transplant. For the year 2023 their efforts resulted in 693 Organ Donors, 1,734 Organs Transplanted, 1,433 Musculoskeletal Donors and 2,278 Cornea Donors.
Earl discussed his experiences. He was born with a genetic heart defect that went undetected until he was 12 years old and he had a normal childhood of sports and play. It wasn’t until he turned 30 that he developed congestive heart failure that put him in the hospital and on the heart waiting list. Twenty-two years after his transplant, he has seen his children grow up and now has grandchildren to enjoy.
In recognition of their 50th anniversary in 2024, they are conducting a ‘50,000 for 50’ Donor Drive, looking for 50,000 to pledge their organs. Signing up and making your wishes known can help your loved ones during a terrible time. Gary, described the comfort he felt knowing his son’s organs were going to help others; he felt as if his son’s story was continuing, it wasn’t total ending.
Both Earl and Gary are avid volunteers who share their stories in hopes they can inspire others to make the decision, for themselves and for their loved ones.
Gary explains that it costs the donor family nothing to give and their staff are there to walk them through the process. They will be there after, too, with counseling and support. He reminds us that there are about 5,000 in our area waiting for an organ transplant, more than 100,000 nationally and each day 17 will die on the waiting list.
There are also volunteer opportunities at Gift of Life, including helping at Howie’s House, a residence for people waiting for the call, fund raising and awareness campaigns.
For more information go to DONORS1.org