Network still needs organ donors, despite increase

With nearly 2,000 men, women and children on waiting lists for life-saving transplant operations in the state of New Jersey — nationally that figure is close to 80,000 — there’s no better time than now to talk about the subject of organ and tissue donation with your family and loved ones.

As a member of the board of trustees of the New Jersey Organ and Tissue Sharing Network (The Sharing Network), I would like you to consider giving a total stranger the ultimate gift; the gift of life. But, in order to do this, you must make your wishes known to your family, so if the need ever arises, they will know of your decision to become an organ donor. A decision that will give someone a second chance at life!

I’m pleased to report organ donation is up in New Jersey. In fact, The Sharing Network recovered organs from 147 donors resulting in a 13 percent increase of organs available for transplant. Despite this increase in consent to donation, more does not mean enough. I encourage everyone reading this message today to find out more about organ donation, and join the New Jersey Organ and Tissue Donor Registry, by calling The Sharing Network at 1-800-742-7365 or visit its Web site at www.sharenj.org.

Judith E. Burgis

Robert Wood Johnson

University Hospital

New Brunswick