NORTH BRUNSWICK — Miryam Torres has seen organ donation save the life of her son — twice — and it was her other children who saved him.
Raul Mendez was 25 when his younger brother, James Mendez of North Brunswick, donated a kidney to him in 1998. When the donated kidney began to fail a decade later, Raul’s sister Silvia Mendez donated one of her kidneys to her brother.
“Raul is doing great, and so are Silvia and James. And because of their gifts, Raul recently has become the father of a beautiful baby,” Torres said.
“Saving a life is an act of love. Organ donation is about love and unity and family. We want more people to know that organ donation can save lives.”
To share their story and encourage others to become organ donors, the family created Team JSR (James, Silvia and Raul) for the NJ Sharing Network’s fifth annual 5K Celebration of Life on June 7 in New Providence.
James Mendez participated in the Celebration of Life with his wife and four children.
“I feel better than I did before. And I am more aware of how precious life can be,” James Mendez said. “But having my brother with us is gift enough.”
The team honored the gift of organs by James and Silvia and celebrated Raul’s second chance at life.
“I show people my pictures and say, ‘Look at James. He gave a kidney and he’s doing great.’ And I show them photos of Silvia. And they see photos of Raul alive today because of the gift of life,” Torres said of information she shares as a volunteer with NJ Sharing Network.
She said she talks to people about becoming registered organ and tissue donors — and about the need to share their end-oflife wishes with loved ones.
“It is an act of love to save a life — not just for a family member, but for anyone. Anytime you can save another life, why not? This is a message of hope,” she said. “I support NJ Sharing Network to thank God for the blessing of my children, and that two of my children could save Raul’s life,” she said.
For more information on organ and tissue donation, visit www.NJSharingNetwork.org.