NONPROFIT SPOTLIGHT

NJ Sharing Network Saves NJ Sharing Network Saves Lives Through Organ and Lives Through Organ and Tissue Donation Tissue Donation

By NJ Sharing Network & By NJ Sharing Network & Jessica Humphrey-CintineoJessica Humphrey-Cintineo

In New Jersey, there are nearly 4,000 residents currently waiting for a life-saving transplant, and one person in New Jersey dies every three days waiting for a transplant. Just one organ and tissue donor can save eight lives and enhance the lives of over 75 people. Transplantable organs include heart, kidneys, liver, lungs, pancreas and intestine. Transplantable tissue includes corneas, heart valves, skin and bone grafts, ligament and tendons.

Locally, NJ Sharing Network is the federally designated non-profit organization responsible for recovering organs and tissue for transplant. With headquarters in New Providence, the organization is also part of the national recovery system, serving the 110,000 people on the national waiting list.

Gina Westhoven of Lodi and Melissa Messina of Northvale are just two Bergen County residents personally touched by NJ Sharing Network. Here, we share their stories.

Westhoven’s family and friends love her energetic personality and zest for life. She takes pride in her life-saving work as an EMT with Englewood Volunteer Ambulance Corp and as a business owner. She has a great love for travelling to some of the world’s most-beautiful beaches and enjoys chilling with her mom, family, friends and her 70-pound pit bull Micki.

But four years ago, Westhoven’s began to face serious health issues for the first time in her life. She constantly felt zapped of energy, and, at times, she struggled to breathe and could barely walk. She went from specialist-to-specialist in search of answers. One diagnosed asthma, another pneumonia. Her symptoms got worse. Ultimately, the medical staff at Chilton Medical Center diagnosed Westhoven with congestive heart failure (CHF).

Westhoven knew a bit about heart disease – from her father, who died of it at age 45 – and from the patients she saw as an EMT. “I thought I was going to die in a matter of days,” said Westhoven.

The cardiac experts at Chilton Medical Center and Morristown Medical Center managed Westhoven’s condition. Westhoven was first supported with a defibrillator and medications. A cardiomems electronic device was implanted to help monitor her heart, and it soon became apparent that Westhoven needed a milrinone pump for short-term treatment. An LVAD (left ventricular assist device) was then attached directly to her heart with an external battery pack to pump her damaged heart.

“Thanks to the LVAD, I was able to walk and breathe again,” said Westhoven. “I was able to do my daily activities without it being a huge struggle.”

While Westhoven felt extremely blessed, she was eager to get a heart transplant with hopes that her health would be fully restored.

“For two years with the LVAD, in some situations it felt like I was sitting on the sidelines watching everyone else live life to its fullest,” said Westhoven. “The LVAD kept me alive, but there was so much more that I wanted to do – international travel, swim, have children. I was debating on whether or not it was the right time for me to get a transplant or stay on the LVAD. I remember my primary doctor asking me, ‘Are you living to survive or are you living to live life?’ I realized at the time that I was only living to survive. I was now determined to be listed for a heart transplant for a better quality of life. My family, friends and medical team encouraged me every step of the way.”

On Dec. 14, 2020, Westhoven received the phone call that a heart was available. The next day, she underwent a successful transplant surgery at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center.

“When I first woke up from transplant, I remember crying because I was happy to be alive but at the same time felt guilty because somewhere a family was putting their loved one to rest,” said Westhoven. “I am forever grateful to my donor – there’s just not enough ways to say, ‘thank you.’ My donor wanted to give the gift of life, and God chose my donor for me. Because they both said ‘yes,’ it makes me feel less guilty.”

Now several months post-transplant, Westhoven continues to honor her donor as she grows stronger and healthier each day.

“My heart is my new best friend – to honor my donor I know I must protect it,” said Westhoven. “Sometimes it feels like this has all been just a dream. But when I look in the mirror, I see my scar and it reminds me that I am truly alive.”

Westhoven jokingly admits that she’s aware that her feisty spirit is also getting back on track.

“I keep telling my family, friends and co-workers that ‘Gina Version 2.0’ will be better than ever,” said Westhoven. “My cardiac rehab team has not quite cleared me yet for all activities yet. But I can’t wait to try jet skiing for the first time.”

While Westhoven was blessed with a lifesaving organ donation, Messina was hallowed to be able to provide the lifesaving organs themselves. On April 18, 2019, Messina and Joey Rodriguez faced unthinkable tragedy when their six-month-old son Kash unexpectedly passed away after suffering multiple strokes and a brain stem herniation.

“Our world was absolutely flipped upside-down,” said Messina. “We were crushed, and we questioned how this could ever happen.”

Although their hearts may never fully heal, Messina, Rodriguez and Kash’s older brother and best friend, Roman, are honored that Kash’s donated organs answered the prayers of three other families. Kash’s heart saved the life of a two-month-old boy, his liver saved the life of a 9-month-old baby girl and his kidneys saved the life of a 45-year-old wife and mother.

“We realized that we would never want another family to go through this pain,” said Messina. “We knew that somewhere there was a family holding their baby praying for a miracle. Kash had the opportunity to be that miracle through donation. His little body couldn’t fight hard enough to come back to us, but he fought hard and long enough to become an organ donor and give the gift of life.”

Messina and Rodriguez are thankful for the caring support of NJ Sharing Network’s team who helped create a silver lining during a time of great sadness for their entire family.

“We gained a guardian angel in heaven, but also gained close friends from NJ Sharing Network that have taken care of us every step of the way,” said Mes-

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sina. “Their love and compassion is something we will always cherish and never forget.”

Brittany Jacobson, manager of clinical specialists, NJ Sharing Network, believes that supporting Messina and Rodriguez changed her outlook on life and her career.

“I remember feeling a sense of calm during my drive to the hospital. It felt like something was telling me that I needed to be there,” said Jacobson. “We honor Kash every single day doing the work we do at NJ Sharing Network. Each family leaves their special imprint on my heart, and that’s what makes our work so rewarding.”

Six months after Kash’s untimely passing, Messina, who has a BSN degree, joined the NJ Sharing Network team as a clinical donation specialist. She now plays an important role in saving and enhancing lives every day, continuing to care for families and giving hope to others.

On Feb. 19, 2021, the family was blessed with the birth of their baby boy Phoenix Joseph, PJ for short. Together, the family has found a sense of peace and hope for a bright future ahead – with their guardian angel watching over them.

And, the peace and hope is in part thanks to NJ Sharing Network too. NJ Sharing Network has a program called “Wrapped in Love.” Through the Wrapped in Love program, donor families are honored with handmade shawls and blankets that are tangible expressions of comfort and compassion.

“We received ours around the 2-year mark of Kash’s death. It’s so nice to know that after all that time, he is still honored, loved and remembered and that we as his family are still supported,” said Messina. “I love being able to wrap the boys up in it like a big hug from their angel brother. It opens up a path of conversation with them about their brother and the miracles he created. It makes them feel a little closer and helps them through on those tough days.”

NJ Sharing Network has received many accolades for its role in helping to increase organ transplantation in the Garden State by 31 percent over the last decade. In addition, the number of organ donors in a single year reached an all-time high as 222 generous individuals in New Jersey gave the gift of life in 2020, an 8 percent increase over last year’s previous record.

“We realize our goal of saving and enhancing lives through organ and tissue donation by working closely with our local transplant centers and hospital partners, medical examiners and funeral directors in the identification, referral and care of potential organ and tissue donors,” said Joseph Roth, president and CEO of NJ Sharing Network. “An increase in awareness about donation, the growth of New Jersey’s donor registry and advances in transplantation medicine have all contributed to a significant growth in lives saved by donation.”

It is now easier than ever for New Jerseyans to register in any of the following options: online at www. NJSharingNetwork.org; through the iPhone Health App; and in-person at your local Motor Vehicle Agency.

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