A 25-year-old gap may be bridging between Sacramento Police officer Joseph “Joe” Chairez’s gift of life, but it still seems far away.
Joe, a devoted father and police officer, died from a brain aneurysm in 2000 while making an arrest. His family later discovered his wish to become an organ donor. Joe gave the family their child back after being given new heart by a Hispanic man five years after his death. That organ donation is now saving four lives.
Despite his gift, Hispanics make up nearly half of the organ transplant wait list but are among the fewest to sign up as donors. The Chairez family’s goal is to change that, starting with encouraging more Hispanic people to donate their organs.
Organ donation can save up to eight lives and better 75 lives through tissue donations. Registering as an organ donor requires no financial cost or effort.
Source: https://www.cbsnews.com/sacramento/news/sacramento-police-officer-joseph-chairez-organ-donation