Sharon Bierria honored for giving the gift of life Bassett joins Center for Donation & Transplant in donor recognition

Date:April 16, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For Further Information Contact:

• Karen Huxtable
  (607) 547-4581
  karen.huxtable@bassett.org
• Diane L. Wells
  (607) 547-6354
  diane.wells@bassett.org

Cooperstown, N.Y. - It’s a decision Sharon Bierria never expected to have to make, but two years after her son’s death she is speaking out in support of organ donation knowing her decision to donate Tyshawn’s organs saved lives. Bassett Medical Center (BMC) and the Center for Donation & Transplant (CDT) are honoring Sharon for choosing to give the gift of life as part of a broader program that recognizes patients and their families during April, which is National Donate Life Month.

Bassett’s President and Chief Executive Officer Dr. William Streck thanked Ms. Bierria saying, "It is hard to conceive of a more generous gift at a more difficult time than the one Sharon made. We thank her for her actions then and her continuing advocacy for organ donation awareness. This event also highlights the important work of the Center for Donation & Transplant."

Bierria encourages families to think about organ donation now, before they find themselves in the situation she was in. "It was difficult to make the decision because Tyshawn’s death was so unexpected, but I am grateful lives were saved and that my son lives on in this way." Tyshawn died May 1, 2008 at Bassett Medical Center; he was just 22 years old. Bierria explains, "It’s heartbreaking to lose a child and you don’t want to be faced with that choice when you are overwhelmed and emotionally taxed. It is best considered when everyone is healthy. When I was approached about making this decision, I prayed for guidance and that’s how I got through it. "

Bierria is a minister and founder of the J.I.N.G. J.I.N.G. (Jail is Not Glamorous, Jesus is Necessary Gentlemen) Ministries, based in Elmhurst, N.Y.

Donna Anderson, R.N., director of the intensive care unit, says Sharon Bierria has touched the lives of people at Bassett Medical Center and beyond the walls of the hospital. "Sharon’s strength is an inspiration and we are so appreciative of the decision she made to help others even while struggling with her son’s death. Bassett is pleased to be able to honor Sharon today for the gift of life she gave two years ago and for the work she is doing now to help raise awareness of the need for organ donation."

The Center for Donation & Transplant presented Bassett with a Donate Life Flag to display in Bierria’s honor during April. Bassett will then give the flag to Sharon to keep. In addition, CDT will dedicate a rose in honor of BMC and another in Bierria’s honor on the Donate Life Float in the 2011 Rose Parade in Pasadena, California.

Facts on Organ Donation

• 18 people die every day due to the shortage of organs for transplant
• Currently, there are over 100,000 people on the United Network for Organ Sharing wait list for transplant
• Over 9,000 New Yorkers are included on that list
• One donor can help save or enhance the lives of up to 50 people
• Donors can range in age from newborns to over 90 years old

To enroll in the New York State Donate Life Registry, call CDT at 1-800-256-7811 or enroll directly at www.donatelifecdt.com

The Center for Donation & Transplant

The Center for Donation & Transplant (CDT) is a non-profit organ procurement organization (OPO) dedicated to increasing organ and tissue donation. CDT coordinates the retrieval of donor organs and tissue at 43 hospitals throughout northeastern New York state and western Vermont. Our mission is:

• To facilitate procurement and equitable distribution of medically suitable organs and tissues for transplant
• To ensure the option of donation is offered to families in an informative and compassionate manner
• To provide long-term support and comfort to families involved in the donation process
• To educate the medical profession and the community at large about organ and tissue donation

CDT was established in 1972 and is one of 58 federally designated organ procurement organizations in the United States. The center is a member of the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), which houses the national computer system of patients waiting for transplants, and is also a member of the Association of Organ Procurement Organizations (AOPO). More information can be found at www.donatelifecdt.com.