Janet Ocasio, who lives in Brewster, New York, received a life-saving liver transplant on October 8, 1998 at Westchester Medical Center. Without the transplant, she would not have been able to meet, hold and enjoy her first grandchild who was born in April 2007.

Janet is a former health care executive who, before she developed liver disease, was a health consultant and educator. A social worker by profession, and a vice president of ambulatory services at a long term care facility, she also served on many boards of directors. Janet’s busy life came to an abrupt halt when she became so ill that she was told she needed a liver transplant.

Grateful to her donor and the transplant, Janet is a volunteer for the New York Organ Donor Network. She is also a member of Transplants Save Lives, a nonprofit regional organization that brings recipients, transplant candidates, living donors and their families together to help them cope with their ongoing personal and psychological needs.

On April 2, 2007, another miracle of life occurred for Janet. Her daughter, Kisha Riviezzo, gave birth to a son. Frank Thomas Riviezzo III is Janet’s first grandchild. Janet knows that without her transplant, and the donor who gave the gift of life, she would not have been spared to witness the joy of being a grandmother. “I visit him every day,” Janet said, when she was asked the obvious question of whether she spoiled baby Frank.

In addition to Kisha, Janet has an adopted son, Michael, a graduate of West Point, who works for a pharmaceutical company; and a younger son, Philip, a graduate of NYU’s Tisch program for performing arts who is pursuing an acting career.

Janet—who is of Hispanic origin—says that she hopes that all Latinos will think about those who are still waiting for transplants, and enroll in the New York State Organ and Tissue Donor Registry. Although the consent rate for organ donation is highest among Hispanics in the greater New York metropolitan area – in 2006 it was 63% compared to 46% for Non-Hispanics – one-third of Hispanics still say “no” to donation. In response to the continuing need for donors, Janet wrote the following piece to coincide with Hispanic Heritage Month in 2006.

THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY, ORGAN TRANSPLANTATION AND DONATION

By Janet Ocasio

The need for organ transplants is an increasing one in all population groups. Certainly the Hispanic community is not excluded from this. Kidney and liver transplants, among others, have become a more frequent occurrence as a result of the increase in diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and chronic hepatitis, now a national epidemic.

I am a Hispanic who received a liver transplant. For me, the mere idea of a liver transplant was seen as drastic and, at times, something impossible. My family stood by me but they were very skeptical about the availability of such an option for me. Furthermore, we were unaware of the success rate of such a procedure and anticipated a lifetime of disability and distress.

What a surprise when we began to learn about organ donation, the process and the successes. However, we were somewhat disappointed to learn that organ donation was not accepted by everyone in the Hispanic community and that a tremendous need for public education existed.

My experience as a liver recipient was a learning experience. I learned about hope and possibilities. I confronted what had appeared to be an impossible situation and emerged with a new life, new friends, and doctors and nurses who were just as invested in my success as my family. I hope that my experience is one which is duplicated throughout the Hispanic community but I know that it can only happen if there is continued advocacy, outreach, and education.

I know that if the Hispanic community learned what the needs are and what is possible, they would respond because that is what we do in our community. The need for transplantation can affect anyone, young, old, male and female in any ethnic or cultural group. I hope that our community will learn that transplantation is just as accessible to the Hispanic community and as successful, but I hope that our community will also learn that with this comes a responsibility in the form of organ donation. Organ donation or “the gift of life” must also be offered by the Hispanic community.

I hope that Hispanic Heritage Month will provide an opportunity for my community, the Hispanic community, to learn more about transplants and organ donation. I hope that this will generate a greater awareness of the need and responsibility which we all share for each other. I hope that this month will also make the Hispanic community recognize that this is something which is available and attainable for our community and that many, many Hispanics, like me, are living testaments that organ donation saves lives.

Janet Ocasio experienced the miracle of life with her liver transplant. Now she is witnessing a second miracle: the birth of her first grandson, Frank Thomas Riviezzo III. This photo with baby Frank was taken on his second day.


A WARM HUG: Janet with her daughter, Kisha Riviezzo


Joining Janet for a photo are her children, their spouses and a girlfriend