Sayreville mom honors her son’s memory by raising awareness about organ and tissue donation

Sayreville

According to NJ Sharing Network, longtime New Jersey resident Susan Gulics cherishes every moment she shares with her husband, John, and their daughter, Lynsey. She is also grateful that her mother and brother both live in houses a short walk from her home in Sayreville.

Sadly, officials said Susan and her close-knit family suffered a tragic loss when her son, Nicholas, passed away on February 11, 2014. They will never forget Nicholas’ caring personality and love for spending time with his family. family and his friends.

Eight difficult years have passed since Nicholas passed away, but Susan is helping to keep his memory alive by supporting NJ Sharing Network and its vital mission to save and improve lives through organ and tissue donation and transplantation. , officials said.

“When we were all in the hospital with Nicky, my husband and I sat together and immediately realized that we wanted something good to come out of something so tragic,” Susan said.

“That’s when we made the decision to make Nicky an organ donor hero so others could live.

NJ Sharing Network officials say Nicholas’s organ and tissue donations have saved and improved the lives of many people, including a Washington state woman who received one of his kidneys. . After her successful transplant, she was finally able to fly on a plane for the first time in many years, and she can now regularly visit her grandchildren and loved ones on the East Coast.

Susan is also grateful for the guidance and support she received from the NJ Sharing Network during the darkest days of her life following Nicholas’s death.

“I wouldn’t have gotten through those first few months without their support,” Susan said.

“The NJ Sharing Network team treated me like family. They were always there for me and always ready to talk to me when I needed them most. John, Lynsey and I all felt much better after attending their support groups and bereavement counseling sessions.Each time we left NJ Sharing Network, I felt like a weight was coming off my chest.

Susan now actively supports NJ Sharing Network, encouraging others to register as organ and tissue donors.

She also brings together her many family members and friends to participate in the Sharing Network Foundation program. 5K Celebration of Life events at New Providence and Long Branch, state officials. Their lovingly named 5K team Team Slick Nickhas a tradition of enjoying a barbecue at the Gulics after each event.

“I’m sure Nicky is in heaven smiling when he sees us all together honoring his legacy and the gift of life he gave to others,” Susan said.

According to United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), more than 100,000 Americans — nearly 4,000 of whom live in New Jersey — are waiting for lifesaving transplants.

However, the generosity of those in the Garden State gives hope for the future. New Jersey’s organ and tissue donor registrations continue to increase due to strong community education and outreach efforts and expanded means of registration, officials said.

The NJ Sharing Network states that a single organ and tissue donor can save eight lives and improve the lives of more than 75 people. To learn more, get involved, and register as an organ and tissue donor, visit www.NJSharingNetwork.org.

About NJ Sharing Network

Currently celebrating its 35th anniversary, the NJ Sharing Network declares that the NJ Sharing Network is the federally designated nonprofit organization responsible for recovering donated organs and tissues and bringing hope to nearly 4,000 residents. of New Jersey who are currently awaiting a lifesaving transplant and are part of the national recovery system for the more than 100,000 people on the national waiting list. According to the NJ Sharing Network, last year 233 generous people in New Jersey gave the gift of life, an all-time high for a single year. In addition, 42,112 eye and tissue donations healed and improved the quality of life of people in need. With its headquarters in New Providence, NJ, officials say the organization has been recognized by NJBIZ as one of the state’s “Best Workplaces” for four consecutive years.


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