(Wyckoff, NJ) – April 2, 2025, marks Donate Life Living Donor Day, a special observance during National Donate Life Month dedicated to honoring the selfless individuals who have given the gift of life through living organ and tissue donation. In 2024 alone, more than 7,000 people made the decision to donate a kidney or a portion of their liver to someone in need.
For Jorge Losch of Wyckoff, NJ, 65, Donate Life Living Donor Day is a time of deep reflection and celebration. As a living kidney donor, Jorge’s altruistic act not only changed one life but also sparked a chain reaction, saving multiple others. Now, he is sharing his journey to inspire others to consider becoming living donors and to encourage everyone to register as organ and tissue donors to save and enhance lives after passing. To learn more about both living and deceased organ donation, visit www.NJSharingNetwork.org.
Jorge’s story is one of extraordinary generosity. On July 6, 2022, just two days after running a 5K race in Glen Rock, he underwent successful surgery at Hackensack University Medical Center – not for his own health, but to altruistically donate a kidney to a stranger in need.
“My kidney donation began a paired kidney exchange, ultimately helping eight people in several states receive the lifesaving transplants they desperately needed,” said Jorge.
A paired kidney exchange is a process that facilitates transplants for individuals who are unable to donate their kidneys directly to their intended recipients, often due to medical incompatibilities. In a paired kidney exchange, living donors who are not compatible with their intended recipient are matched with other incompatible donor-recipient pairs to create a chain of transplants. This enables each recipient to receive a compatible kidney from another donor in the exchange, ultimately increasing the number of successful transplants.
Because Jorge’s donation was altruistic, privacy policies prevented him from knowing many details about his kidney recipient. However, he does know that his kidney went to a 50-year-old woman in Maryland. Most importantly, he knows that his kidney began functioning immediately and her recovery had begun.
“I may never meet her but knowing that my kidney gave her a second chance at life is enough for me,” said Jorge.
Jorge’s decision to donate was deeply personal. His wife, Sara, had once attempted to become a living kidney donor but was unable to do it for medical reasons. Additionally, Jorge had seen firsthand the lifesaving impact of organ donation and transplantation through his father-in-law and the daughter of a childhood friend, both of whom received liver transplants.
“These experiences made me realize it was time to do something beyond myself – something that could truly change someone’s life,” said Jorge. “I received amazing support and encouragement throughout the process from my wife Sara, our children Jessie and Gabby, and our daughter-in-law Ariel.”
Today, Jorge continues to embrace his passion for running, proving that living kidney donors can go on to live full, active lives. Just seven weeks after his donation, he ran another 5K race – his first as a “one-kidney athlete.”
“I finished in 23 minutes and 37 seconds – third place in my age group. It was proof that you can donate a kidney and still do what you love,” said Jorge.
Jorge is now looking forward to participating in NJ Sharing Network’s 5K Celebration of Life events, which bring together thousands of donor families, transplant recipients, and supporters to honor the gift of life.
“The 5K Celebration of Life is an incredible event that truly showcases the power of organ donation,” said Jorge. “It’s a time to celebrate those who have given the gift of life and to support those who are still waiting. I can’t wait to be there and encourage others to join the cause.”
The 5K Celebration of Life events will be held on Saturday, May 17, 2025, in Ocean Grove, NJ, and Sunday, June 8, 2025, in New Providence, NJ. Proceeds support the Sharing Network Foundation. For more information or to sign up, visit www.SharingNetworkFoundation.org/5K
NJ Sharing Network urges everyone to learn more about both living and deceased organ donation and to take action today. For more information, visit www.NJSharingNetwork.org.
