Lifesharing

11/11/2025

🎥 NEW VIDEO: MOTHER OF U.S. MARINE MEETS WOMAN WHO RECEIVED HER LATE SON’S KIDNEY: In honor of Veterans Day, we are releasing new video from an emotional family meeting we hosted several weeks ago: Michelle Lowenthal, mother of USMC SGT Matthew Lowenthal, met kidney recipient Laura Gaytan at our offices in Mission Valley. Michelle said that meeting Laura was “the completion of that last puzzle piece”. The two women cried and hugged as they shared their journeys of grief and hope -- together, they represent both sides of the organ donation and transplantation process.
USMC SGT Lowenthal was stationed at MCAS Miramar when he passed away in a motorcycle accident off base in 2019. SGT Lowenthal was a registered organ donor and Lifesharing carried out his final wish of wanting to help others; our organ team identified Laura as a match for one of Sgt Lowenthal's kidneys.
Lifesharing Family Services Specialist Kylee Groon organized the poignant meeting that united the two women, forever bonding them through the miracle of donation. Kylee also invited our colleagues from Sharp HealthCare — the hospital where Laura received her kidney transplant.
🎥 Video shot and edited by Lifesharing Public Relations Director Anne State
On this Veterans Day, we honor and thank all who have served 🇺🇸


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In honor of Veterans Day, we are releasing new video from an emotional family meeting we hosted several weeks ago: Michelle Lowenthal, mother of USMC SGT M...

10/31/2025

🎥 NEW VIDEO: HONORING OUR ORGAN AND TISSUE DONORS FOR DIA DE LOS MU***OS ~ Lifesharing is proud to unveil its ofrenda (altar) for Día de los Mu***os (Day of the Dead), featuring the photos of many of the organ donors who helped us save a record number of lives last year.
Lifesharing speakers in order of appearance:
Rosie Zavala
Billy Snyder
Kylee Groon
Video shot and edited by Anne State
Lifesharing's Día de los Mu***os event was spearheaded by Melissa Culver with assistance from our organ and tissue family services teams, as well as team members from other Lifesharing departments.

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Lifesharing is proud to unveil its ofrenda (altar) for Día de los Mu***os (Day of the Dead), featuring the photos of many of the organ donors who helped us s...

10/21/2025

🌸 THINK PINK: October may be ending soon, but the fight against breast cancer continues every single day.
Lifesharing Family Services Director Wendy Garrison (L) and .info President Ieesha Johnson (R) stood side by side at the annual meeting of the Association of American Tissue Banks (AATB) last week. Donated tissue plays a vital role in helping breast cancer patients recover after a mastectomy and reconstruction. Donated tissue improves healing.
Last year, Lifesharing recovered tissues from 470 selfless tissue donors in the San Diego region.
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
AMAT = the Association for Multicultural Affairs in Transplantation. The group is dedicated to increasing organ and tissue donation among multicultural communities. We are proud to partner with them.

10/16/2025

THE GREAT CALIFORNIA SHAKEOUT! Lifesharing team members were among the millions of Californians who took part in the statewide earthquake drill this morning at 10:16 AM.
Drop, cover, and hold on!

10/07/2025

Thank you NBC 7 San Diego for sharing the emotional story that took place at Lifesharing last week ~

Sgt. Matthew Lowenthal was in a motorcycle accident in 2019 while on his way to MCAS Miramar base and died on Oct. 15 — his 24th birthday.

10/03/2025

“MATTHEW LIVES!” – exclaimed Lifesharing Donor Mom Michelle Lowenthal (R) as she hugs Laura Gaytan, the patient who received her son’s kidney.    Six years ago, Michelle’s son – USMC SGT Matthew Lowenthal – died from injuries suffered in a motorcycle accident.   Lifesharing worked with the transplant team at Sharp HealthCare to carry out the Marine’s final wishes as a registered organ donor.   Michelle and Laura met in person for the first time yesterday (Thursday Oct 2, 2025) at Lifesharing, in a meeting organized by Family Services Specialist Kylee Groon.   Both and covered the story – check out their websites to watch video of the emotional meeting.
Lifesharing and Sharp HealthCare hosted both women for a luncheon immediately following their meeting.    Attendees included Melanie B and Natalie G from Sharp HealthCare +  Lifesharing team members Patrick Balakian, Gwennie Mai, Matt Kidder, Michelle Tilley, Kylee Groon and Anne State.
Swipe left ⬅️ to view photos.
Lifesharing is proud to unite families through organ donation and transplantation.    For more information, go to our website at Lifesharing.org

09/30/2025

CONGRATS TO LIFESHARING VOLUNTEERS MARLON GARDINERA AND LEEANN PUSATERI — WINNERS OF OUR “GOLDEN MIC AWARD” 🎤 In the 2024-2025 school year, our volunteers educated 15K local students about organ donation. Volunteers LeeAnn Pusateri and Marlon Gardinera each spoke to 60 classes and educated 6K+ students! They have a friendly competition each year to see who can speak to the most classrooms 😄 We are so grateful to them for giving so much of their time to the cause… We thought it was appropriate to recognize them with the Golden Mic Awards. A heartfelt thanks to all our volunteers….

09/25/2025

🎥 NEW VIDEO - “THIS IS LIFESHARING” 💙💚 Every single day, we go to work with the intent of saving lives and bringing healing to the families of organ and tissue donors. Yesterday, Lifesharing Executive Director Jeff Trageser was asked to give a presentation at UC San Diego Health’s CEO Town Hall meeting. Chief Executive Officer Patty Maysent played this video right before Jeff’s talk. It’s a short film that shows some of the beautiful moments that we have witnessed through our work in the field of organ and tissue donation. Thank you to the leadership at UC San Diego Health for supporting our mission and giving us the opportunity to educate staff about the organ donation process.
Lifesharing is honored and privileged to serve donor families in San Diego and Imperial counties.
Our special thanks to the families of Lifesharing organ donors Jarrell David Dent and Leia Parker for letting us share their stories.
🎥: https://youtu.be/G_QUw3xgjZI
Video shot and edited by Lifesharing Public Relations Director Anne State.

Lifesharing is a nonprofit group that coordinates organ and tissue donation at the end of life. We are the federally-designated organ procurement organizat...

09/18/2025

🎥: NEW VIDEO — THE HEART” TOUCHES THE HEART ❤ Lifesharing was in the audience for a recent performance of "The Heart" at the La Jolla Playhouse. The musical shines a light on the emotional nature of the organ donation process and the amazing circle of life that happens when one person’s organ is passed to another through transplantation. Many people in the audience were moved to tears, including us.
After the show, Lifesharing Executive Director Jeff Trageser took to the stage for a Q&A session on organ donation as part of the “Discovery Sunday” series at the Playhouse. Lifesharing coordinates organ and tissue donation at the end of life - we are honored to serve families in San Diego and Imperial counties. Lifesharing volunteer and heart transplant Joe Wong attended the show with us and briefly shared his story at the theatre, too.
Thank you to "The Heart" and the La Jolla Playhouse for bringing attention to the importance of organ donation in such a beautiful and meaningful way.
Speakers in order of appearance:
-Joe Wong, Lifesharing volunteer and heart recipient
-Jeff Trageser, Lifesharing Executive Director -Bridget Cavaiola Stone, Director of Learning and Engagement, La Jolla Playhouse
Photos of “The Heart” courtesy of Becky Biegelson, Public Relations Director for the La Jolla Playhouse
Video shot and edited by Lifesharing Public Relations Director Anne State

“THE HEART” TOUCHES THE HEART ❤ Lifesharing was in the audience for a recent performance of "The Heart" at the La Jolla Playhouse. The musical shines a li...

09/15/2025

HONORING THE PAST, INSPIRING THE FUTURE…. Today we celebrate the start of Hispanic Heritage Month 2025.
Thank you to our friends at .info for creating this graphic.

09/12/2025

THE THANK YOU TOUR: Lifesharing’s transplant recipient volunteers Armando Hernandez and Joe Wong traveled to DMV offices in Chula Vista and Clairemont, respectively, to share their stories and express their gratitude to the men and women who have helped register millions of organ and tissue donors statewide. September is National DMV Appreciation Month. Thank you, 💙💚
For more information on registering as a donor in California, go to our website: https://www.lifesharing.org/become-a-donor/
Photos: Courtesy of Lifesharing Hospital Analyst Jean Moneda, who helps coordinate our volunteer outreach program under the leadership of Lifesharing Director of Donor Development and Strategic Partnerships Samantha Blaz.

08/20/2025

Our Executive Director Jeff Trageser is recognized again for his role at the national level…. PROUD MOMENT FOR US!

AOPO President’s Address: Meet the Moment Aug 20, 2025 | 50K Organ Transplants Campaign, Achievement, AOPO, Leadership AOPO President’s Address: Meet the Moment With gratitude, a powerful call to action, and a vision for the future, Jeff Trageser stepped into his role as AOPO President at the 20...