“Decision: Donation” brings
organ donation lessons to schools

At the kick-off press conference, NJEA president (at the time) Edithe Fulton joins Lawrence Middle School teacher Sue Bunn and NJ Sharing Network president and CEO Joseph Roth to endorse the Decision Donation program. Sue Bunn is a living organ donor, having donated a kidney to a friend.

At the kick-off press conference, NJEA president (at the time) Edithe Fulton joins Lawrence Middle School teacher Sue Bunn and NJ Sharing Network president and CEO Joseph Roth to endorse the Decision Donation program. Sue Bunn is a living organ donor, having donated a kidney to a friend.

It is NJ Sharing Network’s hope that properly informed students can discuss the facts of donation with their families. When old enough to apply for a New Jersey driver’s license, they can express their desire to become a donor. The Manasquan School District’s personal experience with organ donation helped fuel one teacher’s desire to use the new Decision: Donation curriculum in his classroom.

Almost two years ago, a middle school student, Alexandra Tozzi, was killed in a terrible car accident. The impact of her death understandably affected other students in the school district. But “Zan,” as she was known, became an organ donor, and today there are three other young people living because of that generous donation.

Shortly before Zan’s death, team physician for Manasquan High School, Dr. Patrick Buddle, surprised many of his closest friends by donating a kidney to a fellow physician who needed a transplant. Dr. Buddle, the Director of Rehabilitation Medicine at Jersey Shore University Medical Center became a vocal advocate for organ donation.

So, it is not surprising that Kevin Hyland who teaches health, physical education, and family living at the high school became one of the first teachers in the state to sign up for “Decision: Donation,” a new curriculum about organ donation now available for New Jersey teachers. Kevin, who is also the athletic trainer for the high school, speaks with passion about the gift of life that his friend, Dr. Buddle, gave and about the impact that Zan had on her fellow students.

Kevin Hyland in action. Last year Kevin taught
"Decision: Donation" to 250 students.

“I don’t know the pain of losing a son, daughter, sister, or brother, nor do I ever want to. I watched the Tozzi family go through hell. I never had the privilege of meeting Alexandra Rose Tozzi; she must have been something very special. I’ve heard that her smile alone could light up an entire room. She would have been a freshman this year at Manasquan High School. If you walk down the halls here at MHS you would think Zan was one of the most popular girls in school: maybe the class president, maybe just everybody’s friend. The students speak of her often; they wear Zan shirts, sweat shirts, and bracelets. She has not been forgotten,” said Hyland.

“This is why I am teaching my students about organ donation. I could not imagine losing a loved one. I could not imagine the frustration I would have if I could not save my wife, kids, or parents with a simple transplant because of the lack of organ donors. Please talk about organ donation with your students, kids, and family so, in the event of a tragedy, you don’t pass in vain, but rather be somebody just like Zan – a hero.”