Lifesharing helped transplant a record 514 organs in 2024 – the most in its history. Each organ was a gift from a deceased organ donor in the San Diego region. Lifesharing identified matching recipients for each vital organ and worked with transplant teams from across the nation to save the lives of hundreds of patients on the waiting list. Thanks to the generosity of San Diego organ donors, Lifesharing was able to facilitate the transplantation of 243 kidneys, 115 livers, 92 lungs, 59 hearts and five pancreases in 2024. The 92 lungs that were transplanted last year represent a 30% increase from the prior year – a direct result of focused efforts by Lifesharing Director of Organ Clinical Operations Darryl Nethercot to increase the number of lung transplants. In addition to organ donation, Lifesharing recovered tissue from 470 donors last year, potentially healing tens of thousands of additional patients. A single tissue donor can improve the lives of dozens of patients: corneas restore sight, skin can heal burn victims and tendons can rebuild joints. Lifesharing Executive Director Jeff Trageser reflected on the magnitude of his team’s accomplishments: “When we look at these numbers – 514 organs transplanted – I stop and think about all the transplant patients who are now off the waiting list and able to resume a normal life…. that is so powerful.” Lifesharing is the federally-designated organ procurement organization (OPO) serving San Diego and Imperial counties in Southern California.

In late October 2024, the office of Congressman Mike Levin issued a Certificate of Special Recognition for Lifesharing organ donor Gavin Raceles. U.S. Representative Mike Levin serves California’s 49th congressional district, which includes Gavin’s hometown of Oceanside. The certificate was presented to Gavin’s parents, Tawni and Chris Raceles, on the fifth anniversary of their son’s passing. Young Gavin saved three lives as an organ donor when Lifesharing found matching recipients for his heart, liver and kidneys. District Representative Salome Tash also presented Gavin’s parents with a certificate of their own, for their “extraordinary strength and compassion in raising an exceptional and inspirational child”. Indeed, Gavin continues to inspire people long after his passing. His floral portrait was featured on the 2024 Donate Life Rose Parade Float when it glided down Colorado Boulevard on New Year’s Day in Pasadena, California. Later that same year, a short film about Gavin’s life was recognized by the Pacific Southwest Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. The film, which was created by Lifesharing Public Relations Director Anne State, was nominated for a regional Emmy award in the Video Essayist category.

On October 23, 2024, Lifesharing’s Hospital Services team held a one-day immersive event designed to give San Diego healthcare workers an in-depth look at the process of organ and tissue donation. The conference featured a dynamic line-up of speakers from virtually every department within Lifesharing: organ procurement, surgical services, family services, tissue operations and hospital development. “Lifesharing University” was designed to educate frontline hospital workers about our lifesaving mission and their important role in it. (Organ donation must take place in a clinical setting, so Lifesharing works closely with local hospitals to coordinate donation at the end of life.) This was the second annual “Lifesharing University” event – the inaugural conference in 2023 received a bronze award from the Health Care Communicators of Southern California for excellence in the category of “Community Relations”. “Lifesharing University” was organized by Lead Hospital Services Manager Patrick Balakian with assistance from Hospital Analyst Jean Moneda. Lifesharing Director of Donor Development and Stategic Partnerships Samantha Blaz oversees our Hospital Services team and outreach efforts such as “Lifesharing University”.

Lifesharing volunteer LeeAnn Pusateri marked the 10th anniversary of her double-lung transplant in October 2024. A decade ago, LeeAnn was on death’s doorstep, suffering from pulmonary fibrosis. The autoimmune disease ravaged her body and essentially turned her into a walking skeleton. (She withered away to a mere 85 lbs.) Breathing for LeeAnn was like sucking air through a straw — she had to carry her oxygen tank everywhere. Her children feared their mother would die at any moment. Then LeeAnn got “the call” from her transplant center: they had identified a pair of matching lungs from a deceased organ donor. LeeAnn hustled to the hospital for surgery and wrote ‘goodbye’ letters to her children, just in case she did not survive the operation. Thankfully, she not only survived — she thrived. A volunteer for Lifesharing for more than a decade, LeeAnn has used her new lungs to speak to 500 classrooms and educate 31,000+ local students about organ donation. Lifesharing’s high school outreach efforts are led by Christy Heymann.

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In early October 2024, Lifesharing’s School Outreach volunteers met in Mission Valley to prepare for the upcoming school year. However, the first item on the agenda was celebrating the team’s accomplishments in the prior year. During the 2023-2024 school session, Lifesharing volunteers visited 61 local schools, delivered 261 classroom presentations and educated 12,720 students. Most of these students are on the verge of getting their driver licenses, and they will have the opportunity to register as organ and tissue donors at the DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles). Lifesharing’s school presentations are designed to help students make an informed decision before they check the box. Lifesharing’s School Outreach team is led by Christy Heymann and includes a diverse group of transplant recipients, donor family members and Lifesharing employees.

The 2024 OneLegacy Donate Life Rose Parade Float, “Woven Together: The Dance of Life”, won the Judges Award for most outstanding float design and dramatic impact. The float featured the floral portraits of deceased organ donors from across the nation – including a young Lifesharing organ donor named Gavin Raceles. Gavin was only seven years old when he suffered a medical episode that resulted in brain death. Knowing their son’s life could not be saved, Gavin’s parents worked with Lifesharing to donate his organs. Gavin saved three lives in 2019 when Lifesharing found matching recipients for his heart, liver and kidneys. A couple of days before the 2024 Rose Parade, Gavin’s floral portrait was placed on the float in a well-attended ceremony in Irwindale, California. Volunteer Dan Sandoval paused to say a few words of tribute to Gavin, thanking him for giving the precious gift of life. Lifesharing arranged for Gavin’s parents, Tawni and Chris Raceles, to watch the Rose Parade in person as their son’s beautiful portrait glided down Colorado Boulevard in Pasadena on New Year’s Day. “To see him up there with all these other heroes, we just feel so honored,” said Tawni.

Every year, Lifesharing’s Family Services team organizes a special tribute to organ and tissue donors for Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead). Our team builds an ofrenda (altar) and displays the photos of recent donors who have given the gift of life. Preparations for this event start weeks in advance, with team members creating traditional sugar skulls (from scratch) and ordering fresh marigolds in keeping with the traditions of the holiday. Each sugar skull is then decorated by a Lifesharing team member with the goal of creating a beautiful work of art that tells the story of the donor’s life.

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Lifesharing Director of Organ Clinical Operations Darryl Nethercot received the 2023 NATCO Innovation Award for his lifesaving efforts in the field of organ donation and transplantation. Darryl has spearheaded efforts to increase organ transplants both here in San Diego and nationwide. At the time the award was announced, Darryl was serving as Lifesharing’s organ clinical supervisor; he has since been promoted to a director-level position where he oversees Lifesharing’s organ procurement coordinators (OPCs). These OPCs are highly trained nurses who manage each organ donor case and work to identify matching recipients for donated organs. Darryl and his team help save hundreds of lives each year through the transplantation of vital organs such as hearts, lungs, livers and kidneys.

NATCO, the group behind the Innovation Award, is an organization dedicated to educating professionals in the field of organ donation and transplantation.