Despite the many challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, Lifesharing saw a record 146 organ donors last year. Thanks to these heroes, Lifesharing was able to save 413 lives through organ donation. To illustrate the magnitude of this, Lifesharing placed 413 roses in its memorial garden — one for each life saved in 2021. Lifesharing also carried out tissue donations for 405 selfless individuals last year. A single tissue donor can help dozens of people: heart valves can give life, skin can heal burn victims and corneas can give sight. The milestones achieved in 2021 were made possible by the generosity of San Diegans, the perseverance of Lifesharing’s team and the cooperation of numerous hospital and professional partners.

A float honoring organ and tissue donors has won the Extraordinaire Award from the Tournament of Roses. Lifesharing was a proud sponsor of the 2022 Donate Life Rose Parade Float, which featured the floral portraits of 35 organ and tissue donors, including Robert (“Robby”) Barksdale, Jr.  Barksdale was a San Diego sailor who saved five lives when Lifesharing carried out his organ donation in 2018. Several of the sailor’s family members made the journey to Pasadena to cheer the float as it carried his image down Colorado Boulevard. This year’s float was called “Courage to Hope,” and its design was inspired by the majestic winged lion of St. Mark’s Square in Venice, Italy. The float celebrated the courage of organ donors and their families.

Lifesharing has chosen organ donor Robert (“Robby”) Barksdale, Jr., as its Rose Parade Honoree for 2022. His floral portrait will be featured on the Donate Life Float, which pays tribute to organ and tissue donors from around the country. Barksdale, Jr., was a brilliant, charismatic and generous young man who served as a Damage Controlman in the U.S. Navy. Assigned to USS Bunker Hill, Barksdale, Jr., was based in San Diego at the time of his death in 2018. He suffered fatal injuries as the result of a motorcycle accident and his family made the courageous decision to donate his organs. Lifesharing found matching recipients for his heart, kidneys, lungs, liver and pancreas. Barksdale, Jr., saved five lives as an organ donor hero.

Lifesharing is a proud sponsor of Courage to Hope, the 2022 Donate Life Rose Parade Float. Featuring the winged lion of St. Mark’s Square in Venice, Italy, the float celebrates the courage of organ donors and their families.

In an extraordinary display of generosity, Lifesharing organ donors saved 19 lives in a period of just two days. From August 5 – 7, 2021, our organ team managed six donor cases simultaneously – the number they typically see in a 2-week period.” There was no medical reason for the high number of cases; we were able to save lives simply because six families said “yes” to organ donation. During this 48-hour period, Lifesharing nurses found matching recipients for 19 organs, including hearts, kidneys, lungs and livers. Our surgical coordinators then worked tirelessly to ensure each organ stayed healthy on the journey to the recipient.

Lifesharing was a double winner at the 47th Annual Emmy Awards on June 3, 2021. The Pacific Southwest Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences recognized Lifesharing for outstanding achievement in two categories: Video Essay and Branded Content. The film, “Remembering Our Organ and Tissue Donors for Día de los Muertos,” tells the story of the beautiful ofrenda (altar) that Lifesharing employees created in 2020 to honor recent donors. The stories of several heroes were also featured in the film. Lifesharing’s Public Relations Director Anne State received two statuettes for her photography and video editing on the film. Executive Director Lisa Stocks was also awarded a statuette for her role as producer. In their award acceptance speeches, both paid tribute to the profound generosity of Lifesharing’s heroes and donor families.

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Jaclyn (“Jackie”) Russe is Lifesharing’s “Nurse of the Year” and UC San Diego Health’s Nurse Consultant award winner. The accolades were announced during Nurses Week, which runs from May 6 – 12, 2022. In her position as a Lifesharing organ procurement coordinator, Jackie travels to hospitals throughout San Diego and Imperial counties. When a patient’s life cannot be saved, it’s Jackie’s job to try and save their organs. She uses her critical care skills to keep organs viable for transplant, while she searches for the best recipient match on the transplant waiting list. Jackie has saved countless lives by finding new homes for donated organs such as hearts, lungs, kidneys and livers. Jackie builds strong bonds with the families of our organ donor heroes — and she works tirelessly to ensure their loved ones live on through donation. Every year, Jackie honors our donors during Día de los Muertos.

Jackie has also made numerous clinical contributions to Lifesharing, which have helped us set back-to-back records for organ donations over the last several years. She spearheaded a project which increased the number of liver transplants by 22% and she is currently studying ways to increase heart donations, too. Because when you increase the number of organs that are donated — you increase the number of lives that can be saved.

On a personal note, Jackie is a mother of four and a veteran of the U.S. Navy. She served in Afghanistan, tending to wounded warriors on the battlefield. Jackie was motivated to enlist after witnessing the tragic events of September 11th, 2001 — and the story of her deployment was recently featured on ABC 10News on the 20th anniversary of 9/11. Jackie continues to embody the core values of the Navy: honor, courage and commitment. We are incredibly proud to call her a Lifesharing nurse.

Honoring our Organ and Tissue Donors for Día de Muertos

10 News Report: Lifesharing Nurse and Navy vet Jaclyn Russe on How 9/11 Changed Her Life

Lifesharing team members created a memorial wreath to honor recent organ and tissue donors

Lifesharing saved a record 424 lives in 2020, successfully overcoming extraordinary challenges presented by COVID-19. Determined to carry out their mission, our team achieved two incredible milestones: a record 143 organ donors and a record 424 organs transplanted in a single year. These efforts were made possible by the amazing generosity of our donor families and the phenomenal support of our hospital partners. In addition to saving lives, Lifesharing also facilitated the donation of 66 organs for research and coordinated tissue donation for 455 individuals last year. To ensure the safety of the transplantation process, all organ and tissue donors are being tested for COVID-19. In announcing the record year, Lifesharing Executive Director Lisa Stocks told her staff, “This is unprecedented. The only way I can explain it is that the team persevered… I have so much gratitude in my heart for our staff, hospitals and families.”

Every year, Lifesharing creates a beautiful ofrenda (altar) to honor its recent heroes. Celebrated on November 1 and 2, Día de los Muertos is a Mexican holiday where it’s believed that the spirits of our deceased loved ones return to earth.

Lifesharing team members spend hours creating traditional sugar skulls for each donor — personalizing them in unique and beautiful ways. In this photo, Lifesharing organ procurement coordinator Jaclyn Russe, RN, creates a sugar skull in honor of organ donor Sara Michelle Herrera.

Honoring our Organ and Tissue Donors for Día de Muertos

Lifesharing, the federally designated organ donation group in San Diego, is proud to honor Everardo Martinez on the Donate Life Rose Parade Float. The float features organ donors from all over the country – Martinez will represent the San Diego area on behalf of Lifesharing.

Born in Pátzcuaro, Michoacán, Mexico, Everardo Martinez was a devoted husband and father. His smile lit up the room and his big heart showered the world with love. For 20 years, he put that love into every meal he cooked as head chef at Lourdes Mexican Food Restaurant in Escondido. (The restaurant is known for its chicken soup.)

In the spring of 2016, Martinez suffered a fatal aneurysm. As a registered organ donor, he saved the lives of 3 people when five of his organs were transplanted — including his loving heart. His wife Adriana says, “My husband was an amazing human being – loving, caring. He wanted to make a difference and he truly did. He impacted so many lives with his gift of life. And he leaves that legacy for us to continue.”

Thank you to the San Diego Padres and all our lifesaving partners

Lifesharing, the federally designated organ donation group in San Diego, was proud to partner with the San Diego Padres for the 5th Annual “Donate Life Night” at Petco Park on Monday, July 30th. David Abbott, 10, threw out the honorary first pitch in memory of his younger brother, Will Abbott. Will was a young Padres fan who became an organ donor at the tender age of four. His heart, liver and kidneys saved the lives of three children and one adult. Will’s story has struck a chord with many people, and his family was interviewed by NBC 7 that evening. Click Here to Watch.

Lifesharing was proud to stand on the field with dozens of medical and professional partners — including the San Diego Eye Bank and transplant teams from UC San Diego Health, Sharp Memorial, Scripps Green and Rady Children’s Hospital. Lifesharing is grateful to the San Diego Padres for helping us raise awareness about organ and tissue donation.

Here’s why organ donation is so important:

• California has the longest waiting list at 21,000+
• 2,000+ people in the San Diego area are waiting for an organ
• One person can save 8 lives through organ donation and heal 75 others through eye and tissue donation. Register to be a donor at https://register.donatelifecalifornia.org/register/

Lifesharing is a Donate Life organization, coordinating all organ and tissue donations in San Diego and Imperial counties.