12-Year-Old Short Hills Heart Transplant Recipient Leads 5K Team

SHORT HILLS, NJ - Greta Clausen was eight months old when she had a heart transplant that saved her life. Now more than a decade later, the 12-year-old is leading a team in the 5K Celebration of Life Sunday, June 2.

This past January, Clausen celebrated her 11th heart day. She has been sharing her experience as a heart transplant recipient via Instagram (@gretaspecialheart) and posts some of her experiences with getting blood work, biopsies, taking medication, etc. with the hope of sharing others what life is like with a heart transplant.

Part of that life will be working with the NJ Sharing Network, the non-profit organization responsible for the recovery of organs and tissue for nearly 4,000 New Jersey residents awaiting life-saving transplants, at their 5K Celebration of Life.

Thousands of walkers, runners and volunteers will honor those who gave the gift of life, pay tribute to those who have received a transplant, offer hope to those currently waiting for a transplant and remember those who passed away while waiting for the gift of life.

The 5K Celebration of Life kicked off on Sunday, May 19 at the Great Lawn at the Ocean Promenade in Long Branch, followed by the organization’s flagship event on Sunday at NJ Sharing Network’s headquarters located at 691 Central Ave. in New Providence. Both events are a 5K Walk & USATF Certified Race.

“The 5K Celebration of Life events bring together donor families, transplant recipients, those waiting for a transplant, volunteers, sponsors and partners, all of whom play an integral role in making our life-saving mission possible,” said NJ Sharing Network President and CEO, Joe Roth. “The sheer volume of support, compassion and dedication is palpable as our teams walk and run to celebrate the gift of life.”

Greta's mother, Michelle Clausen, said that her family has been part of the event for the past eight years.

"Our entire family, AKA Team Greta, participates in the NJ Sharing Network’s annual 5K. We walk, sometimes run, to help raise money and awareness for organ and tissue donation," Clausen said. "It’s also a great way to see and meet other volunteers, organ recipients, and donor families all coming together. Greta especially looks forward to this every year."

Participants can expect a day of music, dancing, food trucks, kids’ activities, sponsor giveaways and countless human interest stories attesting to the power of organ and tissue donation. Attendees may see the families of organ and tissue donors embracing transplant recipients, living kidney donors walking alongside the person whose life they saved, teams rallying around a community member currently waiting for a transplant.

Michelle Clausen said she is very cognizant of the fact that Great received her "special heart" thanks to another family who chose to turn their sadness into a gift of life. And that is something she realized right away.

"I also remember thinking that, because the heart had to be about the same size as Greta’s, it had to have been from a young child," she said. "I thought about the family of that child and knew that this was a very sad time for them."

Through the 5K Celebration of Life, NJ Sharing Network’s Foundation hopes to raise $1.25 million to increase the number of lives saved through innovative research, family support, public awareness and education about the life-saving benefits of organ and tissue donation and transplantation.

In 2018, 678 life-saving transplants were made possible, 537 from deceased donors and an additional 141 from living donors. Today, there are nearly 4,000 New Jersey residents awaiting a life-saving transplant. Every day, approximately three people are added to the New Jersey waiting list, and one person dies every three days while waiting for a transplant. One organ donor can save eight lives and one tissue donor can restore health to over 75 people. New Jersey residents can help save lives by registering as organ and tissue donors, having a conversation with family and friends and getting involved at www.NJSharingNetwork.org.

Participants, sponsors and volunteers interested in participating in the 5K Celebration of Life can learn more and sign up at www.NJSharingNetwork.org/5k.

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