HIGHTSTOWN, N.J. – When New Jersey Credit Union League's YvetteSegarra learned that her sister needed a kidney transplant and thatthe typical waiting list in New Jersey is five years assumingdoctors can find a match, she didn't need to think twice beforedeciding to donate one of her own kidneys to Shelly. Shelly, 62years old, had been going for dialysis three times a week sinceSeptember because of damage to her kidney from high blood pressure.“My sister needed a transplant to live, and I was thrilled when Ifound out I was a match,” said the 59-year old Segarra who ismanager of special events/meeting planner for the NJCUL. “It was abit of a shock to her and my daughter Tracy was very concernedabout the whole procedure. She came with me to all the appointmentsand asked every question you could think of and then some. Shewanted me to be sure and she wanted me to be safe. What we foundout was that it was going to be a difficult operation and recovery,but I really wanted to do this for my sister. I felt it wassomething I had to do. I couldn't stand to see my sister sufferingknowing there was something I could do to help her.” The more thanthree-hour surgery was performed Jan. 3 at Robert Wood JohnsonUniversity Medical Center in New Brunswick, N.J. She said herdoctor told her it would be six-to-eight weeks before she couldreturn to her job at NJCUL. Segarra readily admits that theinspiration for her decision was her son Jason who was killed in1999 in an auto accident when he was 23 years old. Jason, sheexplained, wanted to be an organ donor, “and when my husband and Isaw it on his license, we didn't know what it was about. We'd heardabout organ donors, but to be honest when you're not in need of oneyou don't pay the idea much attention. I'm ashamed to say thatbefore Jason died I wouldn't have put it on my license. But Jasonalways said, “Where I go when I'll die I won't need my organs.”Segarra wound up donating her son's bone marrow, heart, liver,kidneys and pancreas. Additionally, his eyes went to an eye bank.Three people got his organs, and Segarra continues to correspondwith them. She also got to meet two of them, including the one whoreceived her son's heart. “I can put my hand on his chest and feelmy son's heartbeat,” she reflects. Segarra understands why somepeople are hesitant to be organ donors – some have religiousreasons, others hear about organs being sold for profit. “We needto educate people about organ donating,” she says. “The New JerseyCredit Union League has been so supportive. I go to chaptermeetings and talk with credit union people across the state abouthow important it is. I also talk with Transplant International andthey come to some meetings as well to speak with attendees.” Sheadds that, “We all have gifts to give. There's no reason in thisworld to have perfectly good organs be buried when there are peoplewho can use them. Nobody should be put in the position of having todecide, but when faced with a situation it's a no brainer.” Segarraexplains one irony of organ donor designation that people need tobe aware of is this – although an organ donor card is a legaldocument, immediate family members can still deny the donation whenthe person dies if they choose to. That's why, she stresses, “it'sso important to make your wishes clear to family members andinstruct them to abide by your wishes. In my son's case, mydaughter and I honored his wishes because he verbalized them. Iheard it out of his mouth, but I never thought I'd have to honorhis decision.” As Segarra continues her recuperation she says, “I'muncomfortable now recuperating from the surgery, but I'll be fine.You can live with one kidney. It's truly the gift of life to see mysister doing so well no.” As for Shelly, Segarra said her levelsare perfect. -

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