Essex County Infant Saves 3 Lives: N.J. Organ Donation

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — When the family of Zoë Gina Jackson met their infant daughter’s kidney donation recipient six years after her death, there was an instant connection between the two families that transcended the pain and suffering of losing a child.

That’s part of the touching legacy that the infant Essex County resident is leaving behind, and which will be commemorated on the Donate Life float during the Rose Parade in Pasadena, CA, on Jan. 2.

According to her family, Zoë was only 13-months-old when she passed away in April 2011, but she was already an “old soul.”

The short, bow legged, sweet and loving baby was only seven-months-old when she started walking, proof of her instinctive determination, her family said. Jackson also formed early and close bonds with her grandparents, especially her grandfather who would always find the time to take her for a walk in the park all the time, no matter the weather.

“I've believed in organ donation as long as I can remember, so the decision to donate Zoë’s organs was obvious for me,” said her mother, Patti Jackson. “I couldn't imagine losing such an amazing person and not letting her save the lives of others.”

According to the Donate Life group:

“When Zoë passed away, she was able the save the lives of three boys, which was perfect because she was such a tomboy. Her liver recipient was only one-year-old, her heart recipient was two-years-old and her kidney recipient was 13-years-old. Patti wrote each recipient family about a month after she passed away and she has since heard from all of the families and thankfully, every recipient is doing great. The Jackson family has had the chance to meet Zoë’s kidney recipient, who is now 19 and graduated high school. There was an instant connection and now they are all like one big family.”

In remembrance of Jackson’s passing, her mother and brother, who both live in Newark, will be attending the Rose Parade in January. The NJ Sharing Network will host a floragraph-decorating event at their headquarters at 6 p.m. on Thursday.

Photo: Donate Life Rose Parade Float, Facebook, used with permission

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