7 Amazing Gifts In New Jersey During 2017

New Jersey residents gave – and received – some amazing presents during 2017. Take a quick look back at some of the state’s most memorable, heartwarming and tear-jerking gifts that took place last year.

THE GIFT: A BABY

Her husband made sacrifices as a police officer. So when Danielle "Dani" Janofsky got sick, she made the ultimate sacrifice. On Feb. 24, Dani, then six months pregnant, gave birth to a son. She wanted to make sure he lived. Three days later, she died.

Now the New Jersey police community is remembering a woman who gave the gift of life before succumbing to a battle with cancer.

• Read the full story: N.J. Cop's Wife Gave Gift Before Dying

THE GIFT: A NEW HOME

A homeless man who helped a woman get home after she ran out of gas on I-95 has been rewarded with a new home.

Johnny Bobbitt Jr. is a former Marine who was homeless for over a year. He is originally from North Carolina, and is a former paramedic who had a hard time recovering after a breakup in 2014. Once Kate McClure and Mark D'Amico started a GoFundMe for Bobbitt, he was able to move into a hotel, where he stayed until he was able to buy his own home.

• Read the full story: Homeless Vet Who Helped Woman Buys New Home With Money She Raised

THE GIFT: A FAMILY

As a gay man, Arden Canecchia didn't grow up thinking that getting married and having a family were going to be part of his future. But thanks to the Maplewood resident and his husband, Rich, two of the 112,000 children waiting for adoption across the nation now have a happy home.

• Read the full story: Gay Couple's Heartwarming Adoption Story Highlights Critical Need

THE GIFT: A PLANETARIUM

The largest planetarium in the Western Hemisphere recently opened at the Liberty Science Center in Jersey City. The Jennifer Chalsty Planetarium is the fourth largest in the entire world, outsized only by domes in China and Japan. From floor to ceiling is 60 feet, roughly the height of four giraffes stacked on top of each other.

• Read the full story: Largest Planetarium In Western Hemisphere Opening In Jersey City

The renovated planetarium was made possible by an unprecedented $5 million gift from a former high school teacher from Short Hills.

• Read the full story: Teacher’s $5M Gift Will Bring Huge Planetarium To New Jersey

THE GIFT: LIFE

Luke Bautista died in 2016 at the age of 15, but his passing saved the lives of five others when his parents, Chris and Carla agreed to donate his organs, something they felt their son would want.

After his death, Luke was able to save five lives through the donations of his heart, kidneys, liver and pancreas. His heart went to a 14-year-old boy from New York; his liver to a 55-year-old man from New Jersey. His kidneys went to two men from New Jersey — the right to a 30-year-old male and the left to a 27-year-old — and his pancreas was transplanted into a 36-year-old woman from Pennsylvania.

• Read the full story: Wall Teen's Life-Saving Gifts To Be Honored At Rose Parade

THE GIFT: PAYING STRANGERS’ LAYAWAY TABS

A local widow was treated to an early Christmas gift when an anonymous person paid off her $600 layway tab at the Walmart in Manville.

• Read the full story: 'Secret Santa' Picks Up $600 Layaway Tab At Manville Walmart

A similar good deed was made on Black Friday in Cherry Hill when a man who goes by "Charlie K" paid off 62 layaway orders worth more than $10,000.

• Read the full story: 'Secret Santa' Picks Up $10K Layaway Tab At Cherry Hill Toys R Us

THE GIFT: A COP CAR

What Clark police did for a young resident in town will melt your heart… and it's all caught on video.

• Read the full story: What Clark Police Do For Boy Will Melt Your Heart

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