New York, NY, April 24, 2009: In a very rare occurrence, 57-year-old heart recipient Anthony DiMaria today met the family of his heart donor for the first time at the New York Organ Donor Network's headquarters. DiMaria was understandably emotional and humbled when he met the family of Jose Rodriguez, the young man who gave him the gift of life and the ability to continue being a husband and father. Donor family/recipient meetings are extremely rare.
The meeting occurred during National Donate Life Month, a federally designated time to raise awareness of the crucial need for organ donors. For the first time, there are more than 100,000 throughout the country waiting for a life saving organ, with approximately 7,500 in the New York metro area.
 On average, 17 people die nationally each day because of a critical shortage of organ donors. From January through November of last year, 548 New Yorkers were among the 5,649 Americans who lost their lives while waiting for an organ or tissue transplant.
Among the attendees, in addition to DiMaria, were his wife Connie and daughters Nina (12) and Grace (10). Members of the 38-year-old donor's family were also present: Ramona Nunez, Jose's companion; Lisbeth and Lisette, their 8-year-old twin daughters, stepson Manuel age 13, and son David age 14; Jose's mother Hilda Rodriguez; and Jose's brothers Manuel, Juan Tomas, Miguel and Ramon (who donated a kidney to Miguel). Not present were Jose's father, Aquile, and his brothers Rodolfo and Rafael.
Meetings of this nature oftentimes lead to a spike in organ donation registrants, thereby saving lives. The New York Organ Donor Network appeals to all New Yorkers age 18 and over to enroll in the New York State Donate Life Registry at www.SaveLivesNewYork.org.
About the New York State Donate Life Registry
The New York State Donate Life Registry is a confidential database administered by the New York State Department of Health. By enrolling in the registry, New Yorkers document their legal consent to become donors. Once they have enrolled in the registry, New Yorkers are given the opportunity to be specific in terms of what organs and tissues they wish to donate, and they can also elect to donate organs to research.
About the New York Organ Donor Network
Of the 58 nonprofit federally designated organ procurement organizations in the United States, the Donor Network is the second largest. It coordinates all organ, eye and tissue donation in the greater New York metropolitan area, and is responsible for public and professional education about donation.
About National Donate Life Month
April is designated nationally as a time to promote organ, tissue, blood and bone marrow donation awareness. This special month was established by the United States Division of Transplantation. Throughout these four weeks, organ, eye and tissue procurement agencies across the United States schedule special events. In the greater New York metropolitan area, the New York Organ Donor Network works side-by-side with hospitals, businesses and organizations to reach as many people as possible to increase understanding about donation and enrollments in the New York State Donate Life Registry.
Media Contact: Martin Woolf, mwoolf@nyodn.org or 646-291-4460.
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