News06.2025

Lifesharing’s Executive Director selected for national role

Lifesharing Executive Director Jeff Trageser, MSN, CPTC, is adding a new title to his name: President of the Association of Organ Procurement Organizations (AOPO).

Trageser will lead strategic planning efforts for AOPO, the organization representing most of the nation’s organ procurement organizations (OPOs). OPOs play a key role in the U.S. transplantation system. They help recover vital organs from deceased organ donors and match those organs with patients on the transplant waiting list. Trageser will advocate for patients on a national level and focus on helping AOPO achieve its goal of 50,000 annual transplants by the year 2026.

“OPOs are a critical lifeline for people in need of a transplant,” said Trageser. “I’m honored to accept this leadership role in AOPO as we embrace new technologies and utilize advanced organ recovery methods in our quest to save even more lives.”

Last year, the nation’s OPOs helped transplant more than 43,000 vital organs such as hearts, lungs, livers and kidneys. Organ donors from Lifesharing alone saved 514 lives in 2024 — a regional record.

Trageser, a registered nurse since 1998, brings decades of clinical experience to this new national position. Under his leadership, Lifesharing has seen rapid growth in the number of organ donors and organs transplanted. He will continue to lead Lifesharing as executive director, a position he has held since 2022.

News01.2025

Lifesharing helps transplant a record number of organs in 2024

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.

News11.2024

Float honoring Lifesharing organ donor wins Extraordinaire Award in 2025 Rose Parade

The 2025 OneLegacy Donate Life Rose Parade Float, “Let Your Life Soar,” won the Extraordinaire Award for most outstanding display of floral presentation. The float featured the portraits of deceased organ donors from across the nation – including Lifesharing organ donor Peyton Nurse.

In the summer of 2022, Nurse suffered fatal injuries in an auto accident at the age of 21. As a registered organ donor, he saved three lives when Lifesharing found matching recipients for his heart, lungs, and kidneys. In addition to these lifesaving gifts, Nurse’s liver and pancreas were donated for research, and his tissues – including skin, bone, and veins – were donated for transplantation.

Nurse’s parents, (Ret.) Capt. Nigel Nurse and Dr. Lesley Nurse, have forged strong friendships with some of their son’s transplant recipients – including Harley Duffer, who received Peyton’s heart and one of his kidneys. Duffer was selected as a rider on the OneLegacy Donate Life Rose Parade Float and was seated near Peyton’s floral portrait.

Lifesharing Public Relations Director Anne State traveled to Pasadena to capture the event on film, while Hospital Analyst Jean Moneda coordinated Lifesharing’s sponsorship of the float under the direction of Lifesharing Director of Donor Development and Strategic Partnerships, Samantha Blaz.

Lifesharing’s 2025 Rose Parade Honoree

Lifesharing Decorates the Donate Life Float

News11.2024

Honoring our heroes for Día de los Muertos 2024

Every November, Lifesharing’s Family Services team organizes a special tribute to organ and tissue donors for Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead). Lifesharing employees build an ofrenda (altar) and display 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 hundreds of fresh marigold flowers to adorn the ofrenda. Each sugar skull is 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.

On November 1, 2024, the families of these donors were invited to Lifesharing to see the beautiful ofrenda made in honor of their loved ones. Lifesharing Director of Family Services Wendy Garrison and Organ Family Services Supervisor Melissa Culver lead the team that spearheads this special event.

Watch these videos:

Creating the Sugar Skulls

Celebrating Día de los Muertos

News10.2024

Young Lifesharing organ donor receives posthumous congressional recognition for saving lives

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, honoring 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.

Video of the commendation

Lifesharing film – “The World’s Biggest Superhero”

News10.2024

“Lifesharing University” gives San Diego healthcare workers insight into organ and tissue donation

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 lineup of speakers from virtually every department within Lifesharing, including organ procurement, surgical services, family services, tissue operations, and hospital development.

“Lifesharing University” was created to educate frontline hospital workers about our lifesaving mission and their important role in it. Because organ donation must take place in a clinical setting, 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 was honored with a bronze award from the Health Care Communicators of Southern California for excellence in the category of Community Relations.

The 2024 event was organized by Lead Hospital Services Manager Patrick Balakian, with assistance from Hospital Analyst Jean Moneda. Lifesharing Director of Donor Development and Strategic Partnerships Samantha Blaz oversees the Hospital Services team and outreach efforts such as “Lifesharing University.”

News10.2024

Lifesharing volunteer LeeAnn Pusateri celebrates 10th anniversary of double-lung transplant

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 pounds. Breathing felt like sucking air through a straw, and she had to carry an oxygen tank with her everywhere. Her children lived in constant fear, thinking their mother could die at any moment.

Then came “the call” from her transplant center: a pair of matching lungs from a deceased organ donor had been found. LeeAnn rushed to the hospital for surgery, writing goodbye letters to her children just in case she didn’t survive the operation. Thankfully, she not only survived—she thrived.

For more than a decade, LeeAnn has served as a dedicated volunteer for Lifesharing, using her second chance at life to educate and inspire others. With her new lungs, she has spoken in more than 500 classrooms and reached over 31,000 local students with the message of organ donation. Lifesharing’s high school outreach efforts are led by Christy Heymann.

FOX5 San Diego story

News10.2024

Lifesharing volunteers educate almost 13,000 students in 2023-2024 school year

In early October 2024, Lifesharing’s School Outreach volunteers gathered in Mission Valley to prepare for the upcoming school year. Before diving into planning, the team took time to celebrate their accomplishments from the previous academic 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 obtaining their driver licenses and will soon have the opportunity to register as organ and tissue donors at the DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles).

Lifesharing’s school presentations are designed to ensure students are equipped to make an informed decision before checking the donor box. The School Outreach team is led by Christy Heymann and includes a diverse group of transplant recipients, donor family members, and Lifesharing employees.

News05.2024

Lifesharing garners top honors for public awareness campaigns promoting organ and tissue donation

In an unprecedented showing, Lifesharing took home three gold statues, one bronze, and a “Best in Show” distinction at the Finest Awards on May 17, 2024. The event, organized by the Health Care Communicators of Southern California, was held at the historic El Adobe de Capistrano restaurant in Orange County.

Lifesharing was recognized in the categories of internal/external video programs, video news releases, community relations, and op-ed/editorials. The organization’s submission in the op-ed category was a joint entry with UC San Diego Health, which earned a gold award and the coveted “Best in Show” honor.

At the awards ceremony, Lifesharing Public Relations Director Anne State accepted several awards for her films and media efforts. Lifesharing Hospital Services Manager Matthew Kidder accepted an award on behalf of the entire hospital services team, which was honored for its inaugural “Lifesharing University” event—a groundbreaking program designed to educate San Diego healthcare workers about organ and tissue donation.

Lifesharing’s five awards reflect its ongoing commitment to community outreach under the leadership of Executive Director Jeffrey Trageser and Director of Donor Development and Strategic Partnerships Samantha Blaz.

News08.2023

Lifesharing organ donors save 50 lives in August

In August of 2023, Lifesharing organ donors saved 50 lives through the transplantation of vital organs such as hearts, lungs, livers, and kidneys. Each recipient woke up in the hospital with a new organ — and a new life.

Some of the recipients received more than one organ. In total, Lifesharing helped transplant 61 organs during the monthlong effort. (Lifesharing came very close to its all-time record of 62 organs transplanted in a single month, which was set just a few months earlier in May.)

This latest milestone was a testament to the generosity of the San Diego community, the hard work of Lifesharing’s organ team, and the cooperation of numerous hospital and professional partners.

Each organ donation case is a highly coordinated effort involving Lifesharing nurses, surgical coordinators, and family specialists. Each case typically lasts a few days, and it’s not unusual for our team to manage several cases simultaneously.

As of August 31, Lifesharing had facilitated the transplantation of 28 kidneys, 15 lungs, 11 livers, 6 hearts, and 1 pancreas in the month of August.