Johanna Sosa, 38, of Paterson, NJ, understands the importance of working hard and caring for others.
According to NJ Sharing Network, the mother of two teenagers, Sosa balances her full-time job as a Donation Resources Coordinator at NJ Sharing Network while pursuing her degree in Healthcare.
She also finds time to keep in close touch with her mother and other family members.
In her role at NJ Sharing Network, Sosa ensures the organ and tissue donation process is always efficient and effective.
According to officials, Sosa and the Donation Resource Center team handle approximately 300 calls per day to evaluate potential organ donors and speak to families about tissue donation.
“Being a part of the team that saves lives every day gives me a feeling that is priceless,” said Sosa.
“I enjoy being able to bring something positive from a difficult time for families. When my dad passed away, he became a tissue and cornea donor, and I remember that gave our family some sense of comfort during our time of loss.”
Sosa’s selfless approach to life became even more apparent last year after she learned that her friend had an aunt who was in need of a life-saving kidney transplant.
“He reached out to me to ask some questions about organ donation and transplantation,” said Sosa.
“During our conversation, he mentioned that his aunt was an “O” blood type. I am also an “O” so it just hit me and I offered to be tested to see if I could be a candidate to be a living kidney donor for his aunt.”
For Sosa, the decision to donate one of her kidneys was an easy one to make.
“I just thought to myself, ‘since I am a registered organ donor already, why not give the gift of life now,’” said Sosa. “It was literally that simple for me.”
When Sosa first met her recipient, she knew she was making the right decision.
“She is an amazing woman who struggled to raise her kids and put them through school,” said Sosa.
“I saw how much of a great mother, daughter, and sister she is, and I knew that God had placed me in her life because I was meant to donate my kidney. The best way I could explain it is that I was born with her kidney, and God just had me taking care of it until she was ready.”
Officials say the kidney transplant took place in March 2021 and was a success. Both women are doing well, and they have developed a close friendship and communicate daily.
Surprisingly, Sosa has faced some scrutiny from friends for her decision to donate her kidney.
Officials say this has motivated her to focus on sharing her positive story as a living kidney donor to educate others.
“There is such a high number of people in our communities waiting for the gift of life, I feel it is important to spread the importance of living donation. I am honored to have been able to help someone else and save a life,” said Sosa.
“Gandhi once said that ‘the best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.’ I live by this, and I have learned so much about myself during this process.”
According to United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), nearly 4,000 New Jersey residents are waiting for a life-saving transplant, and 67% are people of color.
According to UNOS, one person in New Jersey dies every three days waiting for a transplant. Just one organ and tissue donor can save eight lives and enhance the lives of over 75 people.
To learn more, get involved and register as an organ and tissue donor, visit www.NJSharingNetwork.org.
IMAGE: Johanna Sosa