More than 200 organ transplant recipients, living donors, donor families and caregivers gathered at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (RWJUH) to mark National Organ Donor Month during the hospital’s “From Donation to Transformation: Celebrating the Gift of Life” celebration.
The event, hosted by the hospital’s transplant programs, honored the lives changed by organ donation and featured firsthand stories from heart, kidney and pancreas transplant recipients. Participants shared messages of gratitude to their donors and the care teams who supported them through the process.
“From my experience I can honestly say that organ donation is extremely important, and without it I wouldn’t be here,” said Isaiah Weaver, a Piscataway resident who received a heart transplant at RWJUH in 2024. “I feel happy to be alive through this transplant, and my family and loved ones are happy as well. I will forever be grateful. It has truly changed my life.”
Annandale resident Sheila Devaney, who donated her kidney last year to Navy veteran Ronald Kishun, shared her journey as a living donor. The pair were matched through DOVE Transplant, a nonprofit organization that connects donors with veterans awaiting transplants.
“I tell people, if you’re thinking about it, try it and take the first step,” Devaney said. “When I learned more about Ron through DOVE Transplant, then I knew it was really meant to be.”
RWJUH leaders said the event was designed to raise awareness and encourage more people to consider registering as organ donors.
“By bringing together these courageous individuals to share their inspiring stories, we hope to raise awareness about the life-saving gift of organ donation,” said Dr. Deepa Iyer, medical director of RWJUH’s Advanced Heart Failure, Ventricular Assist Device and Heart Transplant Program.
“Organ donation is one of the most compassionate and selfless acts that individuals can choose to give,” added Dr. Ronald Pelletier, medical director of the hospital’s Kidney and Pancreas Transplant Program.
