Lifesharing | A Donate Life Organization

✨THIS JUST IN! ✨ Lifesharing Executive Director Jeff Trageser gets a standing ovation as he concludes his term as president of the Association of Organ Procurement Organizations (AOPO)!   He was recognized for his steady leadership and unwavering commitment to organ donation and transplantation — he has been a key voice on the national stage this past year, standing up for donor families and patients on the transplant waiting list.    . In this national role, Jeff made it a point to educate elected officials and federal policymakers about the organ donation process:  "Donation is about honoring families, honoring individuals who want to donate and helping people get their transplant”. . When he stepped on stage today, he immediately thanked the entire staff at AOPO for supporting him throughout the 2-year journey where he served as both president and president-elect.     . Congratulations, Jeff!    We’re proud of you! . Speakers in order of appearance: Jeff Trageser, Exec. Dir., Lifesharing Wendy Garrison, Family Services Dir., Lifesharing Zaira Flores, Tissue Technical Supervisor, Lifesharing Darryl Nethercot, Organ Clinical Operations Dir., Lifesharing Steve Miller, CEO, AOPO Alex Trageser, Jeff’s son Billy Snyder, Surgical Services Supervisor, Lifesharing . Video by Anne State .    Additional footage provided Darryl Nethercot and Michelle Tilley

🎥: THIS WAS THE MOMENT OUR PR DIRECTOR WAS NAMED “COMMUNICATOR OF THE YEAR” FOR CHAMPIONING ORGAN DONATION 💙💚 Lifesharing Public Relations Director Anne State took home the prestigious “Communicator of the Year” award from the Health Care Communicators of Southern California - @hccsocal - last Friday.  This award is granted to an individual “who has made a lasting impact by advancing the profession of health care communications not only within their organization, but to the entire health care community”.  Anne was surrounded by her Lifesharing family at the award ceremony:   Director of Donor Development & Strategic Partnerships Samantha Blaz, Lead Hospital Services Manager Patrick Balakian, Advisory Committee Member and High School Outreach leader Christy Heymann, Hospital Services Manager Autumn McClain, and Hospital Analyst Jean Moneda.   Anne’s sisters were there to celebrate her big win as well.  As PR director, Anne is the person who tells Lifesharing’s story.  She works closely with news media and she’s the creative force behind all our social media channels.  (She’s the one who takes all of our pictures and creates all of our videos.)   Thank you to the Health Care Communicators of Southern California for recognizing Anne’s work and for shining a light on our mission of organ and tissue donation.   Additional thanks to photographer David Hanna for taking the group photo at the end of this video.   Special thanks to @NBCLA reporter @camillarambaldi_tv for the excellent job as mistress of ceremonies! When introducing Anne, Camilla said, “What distinguishes our winner among others is her genuine kindness and ability to connect with others in any situation.   She is truly an amazing spokesperson and gives from her heart.” #HCCFinest #OrganDonationChampion #mediarelations #publicrelations #storytelling

✨LIFESHARING’S 2026 NURSE OF THE YEAR IS JORDAN SERATI ✨Jordan brings calmness, clarity, and compassion to the organ donation process — she is a comforting presence for grieving families.   Jordan knows that organ donation can provide a glimmer of hope in the wake of loss, and she works tirelessly to find matching recipients for donated organs such as hearts, lungs, livers and kidneys.   Jordan brings clinical excellence and genuine heart to everything she does.    One donor family was so comforted by her presence that they requested her assistance months later when a second family member became an organ donor. For these reasons and many more, we are proud to announce Jordan Serati as Lifesharing’s Nurse of the Year for 2026. . #nurseoftheyear #organdonation #transplant #lifesharing #nurses . 📸: Lifesharing Public Relations Director Anne State

THE NATION’S ORGAN DONATION LEADERS HEAD TO CAPITOL HILL TO ADVOCATE FOR PATIENTS ON THE TRANSPLANT WAITING LIST.   Lifesharing leaders joined their colleagues from across the country in speaking to elected officials (and their staffers) about the importance of organ donation and the critical role organ procurement organizations (OPOs) play.  Each year, the nation’s OPOs help transplant tens of thousands of vital organs such as hearts, lungs, livers and kidneys.    . Pictured in this video: AOPO CEO Steve Miller, AOPO President and Lifesharing Exec. Dir. Jeff Trageser, Past AOPO President and current Gift of Life Michigan CEO Dorrie Dils, AOPO President-Elect and New England Donor Services CAO Allison Erickson and New England Donor Services Chief of Surgical Services Charles Strom, MD.

HAPPY NATIONAL NURSES DAY TO THE TEAM that was instrumental in transplanting a near-record number of organs last year.    Lifesharing nurses are on the frontlines of the nation’s organ donation system:  they comfort the grieving families of organ donors and work tirelessly to find matching recipients for donated organs.  In 2025, they helped Lifesharing transplant 512 vital organs – including hearts, lungs, livers and kidneys. Top Row (L-R):  Clinical Educator Michelle Tilley, Director of Clinical Operations Darryl Nethercot, Director of Family Services Wendy Garrison, Executive Director Jeff Trageser, Organ Supervisor Casey O’Brien, Nurse of the Year Jordan Serati 2nd row:   Debbie Woods, Hannah Turner, Andres Trujillo, Courtney Kutach, Emily Jones, Nicolę Fernandez 3rd row: Laura Toma, Alli Wayne, Kiersten Smith, Stephanie Gonzalez, Jennifer Nada, Ryan Brooks 4th row: Sarah Harris, Gina Bragiel, Brittany Haradon, Becca Van Antwerp #nursesweek #nationalnursesday

SOUTH BAY STRONG!   Thank you to the board of the Sweetwater Union High School District for inviting Lifesharing to speak about organ donation during Donate Life Month.    Lifesharing volunteer — and organ transplant recipient — Donna Saracho told the audience about her brush with death 15 years ago.  Her family was literally planning her funeral when they got the call that a matching organ had been found — a gift from a generous organ donor.   Chula Vista High School senior Liriam Cano told the board that she was inspired to register as an organ and tissue donor after a Lifesharing representative spoke to her class freshman year.   The presentation was so powerful, it also inspired Liriam to pursue a career in the medical field.     . For more information on Lifesharing’s school outreach programs: https://lnkd.in/gSHFkVpk (https://lnkd.in/gSHFkVpk) . Pictured L-R:  Lifesharing school outreach leader Christy Heymann, Lifesharing volunteer Donna Saracho and Chula Vista High School senior Liriam Cano  . #donatelifemonth #southbay #chulavista #lifesharing #education

🎥 NEW VIDEO: A MIRACLE FOUR YEARS IN THE MAKING 💙💚 This video shows the emotional moments that unfolded when the family of Jaime Gonzalez listened to his heartbeat, approximately four years after his passing.  Jaime, 59, became a Lifesharing organ donor in 2022 after suffering a fatal stroke.  To the surprise of his family, Jaime had registered as an organ donor just two months prior to his death.  His daughter Katie believes her dad wanted to pay the gift forward after receiving a liver transplant during his lifetime.   At the end of his life, Lifesharing coordinated Jaime’s organ donation and identified Carol Destache as a match for Jaime’s heart.   The transplant saved Carol’s life, and both families began exchanging letters.  In late 2025, the Gonzalez family met Carol at Santee Lakes.  (Carol traveled all the way from Arizona to hug them!)   The Gonzalez family brought a stethoscope so they could hear their dad's heartbeat again.   Lifesharing was honored to witness the moment and film the emotional meeting. . Speakers in order of appearance:  . Katie Gonzalez, daughter of organ donor Jaime Gonzalez . Carol Destache, heart recipient  .  Video shot and edited by Lifesharing Public Relations Director Anne State . 🎥: https://lnkd.in/gx-pCczN

LOOK FOR LIFESHARING AT THE GOODGUYS MEGUIAR’S DEL MAR NATIONALS this Friday - Sunday (April 10 - 12):   We’ll have a booth at the car show - it’s taking place at the Del Mar Fairgrounds!    Right now, there are more than 100K+ patients who need an organ transplant to get ‘back on the road’ to good health…. We’ll be sharing information, answering questions, and hopefully inspiring more people to register as organ and tissue donors.   Please stop by our booth and say HI! . In addition to our booth, Lifesharing Family Services Specialist Barbara Vaughan will be showcasing her ’72 Maverick in Building 1 of the Del Mar Fairgrounds — make sure to check out her car!  Barbara is a kidney transplant recipient who’s grateful to be “living the car life” and “logging more miles” thanks to a generous organ donor. . #goodguys26 #donatelife #lifesharing #organdonation #tissuedonation

🎥 NEW VIDEO: HER SON INSPIRES HER EVERY SINGLE DAY ~ Sharp HealthCare Transplant Coordinator and Lifesharing Advisory Board Member Natalie Gonzalez, BSN, RN, CCRN, CCTC, carries her son’s light forward through her lifesaving work in the field of transplantation.  . Natalie suffered an unimaginable loss when her 10-year-old son, Hunter, passed away in 2013.   A day on the lake had turned into tragedy and Hunter suffered fatal injuries in a boating accident.   As a nurse, Natalie knew her son would never recover and she made the decision to donate his organs and tissues.   Hunter's lifesaving donation -- kidneys, heart valves, corneas, and one of his lungs -- inspired his mother to become a transplant coordinator at the Sharp HealthCare Kidney Transplant Center.  . In this role, Natalie manages patients on the transplant waiting list and assists in the process of identifying matching organs for them.   In addition to her work at Sharp HealthCare, Natalie serves as a member of Lifesharing’s Advisory Board and volunteer team. .  Video shot and edited by Lifesharing Public Relations Director Anne State  .  Additional footage provided via our Artlist.io subscription.  .  April is Donate Life Month . #donatelifemonth #organdonor #organdonation #nurses 🎥: https://lnkd.in/gisexyVA

TRAINING TODAY TO SAVE EVEN MORE LIVES TOMORROW: There’s real power in a room full of people who show up determined to make a difference.  The Lifesharing team members pictured here in the foreground   — L-R: Michelle Tilley, Thalisa Callaghan, Guillermo Mazon, Billy Snyder — are practicing innovative methods of organ recovery and preservation.   Organ preservation = making sure that organs stay healthy for recipients.   It’s critical for transplant success. . Every technique practiced, every insight shared, moves us closer to transplanting more organs and saving even more lives.. . #organdonation #savinglives #Lifesharing #donatelife . 📸: Thalisa Callaghan, Lifesharing Hospital Services Manager