Meeting dispelled myths that only people of the same race can donate to one another while relaying an urgent appeal for more organ and tissue donors, kicking off April's National Donate Life Month
 

“The Door Opens, and They Meet for the First Time”: Donna Reed, the mother of organ donor Keith Neville, met two of her son’s transplant recipients for the first time at the headquarters of the New York Organ Donor Network in Midtown Manhattan on Monday, March 27. Keith died in an automobile accident in 2003 at the age of 24. At the start of the emotional meeting, Elaine Berg, president and CEO of the Donor Network (in red) led Ms. Reed into the room. Behind Ms. Reed was her surviving son, Tim Neville. Also pictured (seated on the right of the photo) were Katherine Scott, Mr. Neville’s liver and kidney recipient, and William Sheridan, who received Keith’s heart.

Donna Reed (center) held up a photo of her son, Keith Neville, who became an organ donor. On the left is Katherine Scott, Keith’s liver and kidney recipient. Heart recipient William Sheridan (extreme right) showed a photo of Keith and his brother Tim Neville.

Photo: Martin Woolf/New York Organ Donor Network

On display during the donor family-recipient meeting, a selection of photographs showing organ donor Keith Neville at various stages during his life before it was tragically cut short at the age of 24.

“You Gave Me More Than a Heart”: When Donna Reed (center), the mother of organ donor Keith Neville, met her son’s transplant recipients on March 27 she was presented with a sketch created by heart recipient William Sheridan in honour of, and to thank, his donor. Mr. Sheridan suddenly developed artistic skills after his transplant — a talent that had been displayed by Mr. Neville before he died in an automobile accident at the age of 24 in 2003. On the left is Katherine Scott, Mr. Neville’s liver and kidney recipient.

During this very special meeting, Elizabeth Defurie-Gass (extreme left) held up examples of heart recipient William Sheridan's recent artwork. Mr. Sheridan (on the extreme right) developed artistic skills after his transplant — a talent that had been displayed by the donor Keith Neville before he tragically died in an automobile accident at the age of 24 in 2003. Ms. Defurie-Gass is responsible for an innovative program that provides art therapy to heart transplant recipients. Second from left is Katherine Scott, Mr. Neville’s liver and kidney recipient. Third from left is donor mom Donna Reed.

The New York media came out in full force to cover the first-time meeting of heart recipient William Sheridan, liver and kidney recipient Katherine Scott, and donor mom Donna Reed.

For more information, contact Martin Woolf at 646-291-4460 or mwoolf@nyodn.org.