Long Branch resident Laurie Williams is celebrating the 10-year anniversary of her life-saving heart transplant at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center. Williams, a mother of eight with 17 grandchildren, now volunteers for NJ Sharing Network to raise awareness about organ and tissue donation. Her journey began in 2003 when she intended to donate part of her liver to her brother-in-law but discovered her own serious heart health issues. After facing ventricular tachycardia and congestive heart failure, she received a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) as a bridge to transplant. In November 2012, she received a heart transplant and has since made a full recovery. Williams expressed her gratitude for her heart donor and urged others to register as organ and tissue donors to save more lives.
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The generosity of organ donors in New Jersey has given hope to over 100,000 Americans in need of a life-saving transplant, including nearly 4,000 in the state. According to the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), the number of organ donors and organs transplanted in 2022 reached record highs, marking the fourth consecutive year of increased support for organ donation facilitated by NJ Sharing Network. To learn more about organ and tissue donation or to register as a donor, visit the National Donate Life Registry website.
