News08.2023

Lifesharing clinical director wins unique award for innovation

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.

Stories07.2023

Lifesharing helps unfurl the flag at Snapdragon Stadium to highlight organ donation

Lifesharing and the nonprofit Transplant Trekkers took the field at Snapdragon Stadium to highlight the importance of organ and tissue donation. They helped unfurl the American flag in a pre-game ceremony before the historic match between Manchester United and Wrexham AFC.

The two British football teams played a highly anticipated game in San Diego on July 25, 2023. Transplant Trekkers, a group dedicated to encouraging living organ donation, recruited volunteers from Lifesharing to help unfurl the flag, which spanned almost the entire length of the field and weighed an estimated 2,000 lbs.

Dozens of Lifesharing volunteers carried the heavy flag for hours prior to the game to ensure the American flag did not touch the ground.

Stories06.2023

Lifesharing among the nominees at The Pacific Southwest Emmy Awards

Public Relations Director Anne State (center) and her sisters Laura Brown (left) and Laurie Bergman (right) are a proud organ donor family who represented Lifesharing at the Pacific Southwest Emmy Awards in Rancho Mirage on June 17, 2023.

Anne was nominated in the “Video Essayist” category for her film honoring San Diego Fire-Rescue Captain Robin Cervantes, an organ donor who saved four lives after he passed away in 2019. The floral portrait of the late Capt. Cervantes was featured on the 2023 Donate Life Rose Parade Float; the film documents his family’s journey to Pasadena.

In an interview at the awards show, Anne explained the emotional process of creating films for Lifesharing:
“I feel a duty to the families. I just want to tell their story in the most respectful way — in a way that is befitting of a hero.”

Anne was quick to credit her Lifesharing colleagues for making these films possible:
“This nomination is not just the culmination of my work, but their work, too.”

You can watch Lifesharing’s Emmy-nominated film by clicking on the link below:

Stories05.2023

Lifesharing sets a record for transplants in May

In May of 2023, Lifesharing helped transplant 62 organs — setting a single-month record for the organization. This milestone would not have been possible without the heroism of San Diego organ donors and donor families.

Lifesharing’s organ team coordinated donations from several individuals throughout the month, finding matching recipients for organs such as hearts, lungs, livers, and kidneys. Approximately one-third of the organs were transplanted over the extended Memorial Day weekend, when Lifesharing managed seven organ donor cases simultaneously.

Over a four-day period, 21 lives were saved.

During the month of May, Lifesharing also recovered life-enhancing tissues from 49 selfless donors — including skin, tendons, and heart valves.

Lifesharing Video TV News Coverage KFMB-TV Article

Stories05.2023

“Day of Remembrance” celebrates Lifesharing organ and tissue donors from 2023

On May 11, 2024, Lifesharing held its annual Day of Remembrance at Greenwood Memorial Park in San Diego, California. Recent organ and tissue donors were honored in a beautiful program that included heartfelt testimonials, live music, and an emotional video tribute.

The event concluded with a butterfly release and a rose dedication ceremony, where dozens of families placed roses at the foot of Greenwood’s donor memorial stone. The stone bears a powerful inscription: “We honor the heroes who donated their organs and tissues ~ In their last hour, they gave a lifetime.”

In 2023, Lifesharing organ donors saved 497 lives—a new milestone for the organization. The Day of Remembrance was thoughtfully coordinated by Lifesharing Family Services Director Wendy Garrison and her dedicated team.

Stories05.2023

Lifesharing announces 2023 Nurse Of The Year

Organ procurement coordinator Casey O’Brien has been named Lifesharing’s “Nurse of the Year” for 2023. Casey joined our team in 2019 and travels to hospitals throughout San Diego County to coordinate the organ donation process. She works to find matching recipients for donated organs such as hearts, lungs, livers, and kidneys.

Casey is meticulous in her attention to detail, and her critical care skills helped us save a record number of lives in 2022. Because of her advanced knowledge, she frequently serves as the administrator on call for Lifesharing’s organ donor cases. In that role, she oversees all aspects of the clinical process and provides support for our teams on the frontlines.

Casey has spearheaded efforts to increase organ transplants and was invited to speak at the annual meeting of the Association of Organ Procurement Organizations (AOPO) in June.

Casey’s compassion, engagement, and positive attitude help her connect with donor families, hospital workers, and fellow colleagues. She is a leader and a true team player who always gives 100%.

That’s why she’s Lifesharing’s 2023 Nurse of the Year.

Stories05.2023

Lifesharing’s “Day of Remembrance” honors San Diego organ and tissue donors

On May 13, 2023, Lifesharing held its annual Day of Remembrance in honor of organ and tissue donors from 2022. Collectively, these organ donors helped Lifesharing save a record 437 lives through the transplantation of hearts, lungs, livers, and kidneys.

The Day of Remembrance was held at Greenwood Memorial Park and featured violinist LJ Dorame, as well as numerous speakers. When the presentation ended, attendees gathered outside for a symbolic butterfly release and rose placement ceremony.

Dozens of families placed roses at the foot of Greenwood’s memorial stone, which reads:

“We honor the heroes who donated their organs and tissue. In their last hour, they gave a lifetime.”

Watch Video

News05.2023

Lifesharing wins “Silver” And “Bronze” at The Finest Awards

Lifesharing took home two statuettes for its efforts to encourage organ and tissue donation in San Diego. The Finest Awards were organized by the Health Care Communicators of Southern California to recognize excellence in healthcare marketing and advertising.

Lifesharing’s Director of Donor Development & Strategic Partnerships, Samantha Blaz (second from left), and Public Relations Director, Anne State (second from right), received the Silver award for their “Welcome to Our Hometown” campaign during the Transplant Games in San Diego.

Anne also received a Bronze award in the Multicultural category for her videos and media efforts during Lifesharing’s Día de los Muertos celebration honoring organ and tissue donors.

The Finest Awards were held May 12, 2023, at the Carlsbad Windmill.

The videos below are part of our award-winning entries:

Día de los Muertos video (English)Día de los Muertos video (Español)Transplant Games Parade Video Kidney Recipient Surprises Mother on Stage

Stories04.2023

April is Donate Life month

April is National Donate Life Month, a celebration designed to raise awareness of organ, eye, and tissue donation. The logo was designed by Donate Life America and features a pond coming to life in spring.

The artwork is symbolic: frogs are a sign of renewal, since they begin their lives as tadpoles.

This April, we invite you to be part of our community by registering as organ, eye, and tissue donors. There are more than 100,000 patients on the transplant waiting list in the U.S. — and approximately 2,000 of those patients live in San Diego and Imperial counties.

If you have a California driver license, you can register as a donor using the tab here:

News01.2023

Lifesharing saves a record number of lives in 2022

In another milestone year, Lifesharing saved a record 437 lives in 2022. As the organ procurement organization (OPO) serving San Diego and Imperial counties, Lifesharing coordinates organ and tissue donation at the end of a person’s life.

Last year, we helped transplant 211 kidneys, 93 livers, 65 lungs, 57 hearts, and 11 pancreases (also known as pancreata). The total number — 437 — is a new annual record for Lifesharing.

“These numbers represent lives saved,” said Executive Director Jeff Trageser. He said the milestone was made possible by the hard work of our medical team and the generosity of people in the San Diego region. “It’s all centered on the families who chose to donate. They’re the ones who did this,” said Trageser.

Lifesharing coordinated donations from 140 organ donors and 430 tissue donors in 2022. Organ donors are a beacon of hope for patients on the transplant waiting list, while tissue donors improve a person’s quality of life. (Lifesharing recovers tissues such as heart valves for cardiac patients, skin for burn victims, and tendons to rebuild joints.)

The contributions of San Diego organ donors helped propel the nation’s transplantation system to new heights. According to OPTN (Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network), the U.S. recorded 42,887 organ transplants in 2022 — the most ever in a single year.

Lifesharing Video TV News Coverage KWSB-TV Article