Aug. 8, 2016 - A person dies every 18 hours waiting for an organ transplant in New York. Unfortunately, on August 8, 2011, one of those people was Joseph Acocella. He was serving a second term as the Harrison Town Clerk when he passed away at the age of 30, waiting for a second kidney transplant.
Today, on the fifth anniversary of his passing, Westchester County Executive Robert P. Astorino joined with the Acocella family, Harrison Mayor/Supervisor Ron Belmont and organ donor advocates to pay their respects, and raise awareness for organ donations, during a ceremony at Harrison Town Hall.
“In many ways, it seems like just yesterday that Joe was with us, because his personality was such a remarkable one,” Astorino said. “He was always an inspiration to me, personally, and I often think about how he somehow managed to remain positive despite any challenges that stood in his way. His spirit certainly lives on here in Harrison and beyond, in our hearts and prayers.”
The Acocella family has worked tirelessly to advocate for organ donor registration. But there is still much work to be done, they said, citing that New York currently ranks 50th out of 50 states in terms of the percent of residents over the age of 18 who are registered organ donors.
“The vast majority of New Yorkers think organ donation is a good thing, but they don’t take the steps necessary to register,” said Laura A. Acocella-McCorry, Joseph Acocella’s sister. “The fact that only 27 percent of residents statewide are registered organ donors is just shocking to me. We need to make sure as many people get a second chance at life as possible. Every single donor can make a major difference.”
In fact, one organ donor can save up to eight lives; and one tissue donor can improve the lives of up to 50 people, according to the nonprofit LiveOnNY, a the second largest federally designated organ procurement organization in the United States, which provided statistics cited in this article.
How to Register as an Organ Donor in New York:
- If you are 18 and older, you can register to become an organ donor with the Department of Motor Vehicles; the Board of Elections; or via the Department of Health. Go to New York State Department of Health for online registration options.
- If you are under 18 years old, your parents/guardian will make the decision regarding organ donation. Let them know your intentions so they can carry them out.
Helen Irving, President and CEO of LiveOnNY, said that there are many common misconceptions about organ donation that need to be clarified.
“There are several truths about organ donation that need to be emphasized,” said Irving. “To be clear, doctors will always do everything in their power to save you even if you are a registered organ donor; it is not against your religion to be an organ donor; rich and famous people do not get preference when determining who receives a transplant; and traditional funeral services are possible after any type of donation.”
As Acting Chief of Intra-Abdominal Transplant and Hepatobiliary Surgery at Westchester Medical Center, the flagship of the Westchester Medical Center Health Network, Thomas Diflo, MD, says more than 580 patients are currently awaiting solid organ transplants – heart, kidney and liver – in Westchester Medical Center’s transplant program. Kidney patients make up more than three-quarters of those awaiting an organ transplant.
“While Westchester Medical Center is at the forefront of transplant capabilities in kidney, liver, heart, bone marrow and corneal transplant, including using living donor transplants in some cases, the act of organ donation plays a crucial role in saving and restoring the lives of people in our communities,” said Dr. Diflo. “Through organ donation, patients of all ages are afforded a second chance at life.”
Sixteen-year-old Lauren Shields is one of the fortunate ones. She received a life-saving heart transplant in 2009 and her life was not only saved, but transformed. She is an outspoken champion for organ donations, and she most recently lobbied to extend a law that bears her name, “Lauren’s Law.” The law makes it mandatory to answer the organ donor question on the DMV form when you register or renew your license.
“Organ donation is beautiful,” said Shields, a resident of Stony Point, N.Y., and a sophomore at Albertus Magnus High School. “It brings comfort to families when they know that their loved one’s death was not in vain; that something good happened from their most devastating loss. The generosity of a donor saved my life and I am so grateful.”
In Memory of Joseph Acocella
Acocella was born on July 14, 1981, and was the youngest of four children. He was born with Lumbar Sacral Agenesis, which led to both his legs being amputated when he was just three years old.
“Joseph was taught from a young age that even though he was in a wheelchair, he should stand up for what he believed in – and he always did,” said Acocella-McCorry. “He never let his disability dictate his life.”
Acocella began getting involved in student government in middle school, and by the time he was a senior at Harrison High School, he had been elected Student Body President four times. After graduating in June 2000, he attended Fordham University and studied political science.
In May 2005, Acocella became the youngest member to be elected to the Harrison Board of Education, making it his number one priority to open doors to all students despite their circumstance.
In November 2007, he was elected as the youngest Town Clerk in the State of New York, a position he held in Harrison for two terms. He passed away on Aug. 8, 2011, as he was running for re-election.
“The entire community lost a friend and dedicated public servant when Joseph passed away,” said Mayor Belmont. “He is missed to this day, every day.”
About LiveOnNY:
LiveOnNY is a nonprofit, federally designated organ procurement organization (OPO) dedicated to saving lives, providing comfort, and strengthening legacies through organ, eye, and tissue donation. The OPO, which was established in 1978, and is the second largest OPO in the United States, serves a culturally and ethnically diverse population of 13 million residents in New York City, Long Island and the lower Hudson Valley. Working closely with transplant centers and hospitals, LiveOnNY coordinates organ, eye, and tissue donation for transplant, educates the public and health care professionals about donation and transplantation, and promotes the importance of signing up on the New York State Donate Life Registry. LiveOnNY works closely with nine transplant centers, 98 hospitals, and several tissue and eye banks. LiveOnNY is accredited by the Association of Organ Procurement Organizations (AOPO) and a member of the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), which oversees the organ transplant waiting list in the U.S. For more information, go to LiveOnNY.org.