2017 Zoe Gina Jackson

ZOË GINA JACKSON

Organ Donor

Age 1 ~ Newark, NJ

Donated on 4/10/2016

at University Hospital

Honored by njsharingnetwork.org

Zoë had a personality that would light up a room when she entered it. She was a short, bow legged, sweet and loving baby. She was only 13 months old when she passed away in April 2011, but her family called her an old soul. Zoë was 7 months old when she started walking, which shows how determined she was. Zoë had a great bond with all of her grandparents, especially her grandfather. They would go for walks in the park all the time, no matter the weather. The lives of three boys were saved when Zoë passed away, which was perfect because she was such a tomboy. The Jackson family has had the chance to meet Zoë’s kidney recipient, who is now 19 and graduated high school. “…Even though she is gone, Zoë will live forever in the hearts and memories of those she touched in her short life.”

Zoe’s Story

Zoë had a personality that would light up a room when she entered it. She was a short, bow legged, sweet and loving baby. Zoë was only 13 months old when she passed away in April 2011, but her family called her an old soul. “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 Patti, Zoë’s mother. “I couldn’t imagine losing such an amazing person and not letting her save the lives of others.” Zoë was 7 months old when she started walking, which shows how determined she was. Zoë had a great bond with all of her grandparents, especially her grandfather. They would go for walks in the park all the time, no matter the weather. 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. Zoë’s mother, 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. Together, they participate in NJ Sharing Network’s 5K Celebration of Life as a team and walk in honor of Zoë and the gift of life she gave to others. “It’s been five years now and I can still hear her voice as she would scream and cry whenever she would see my oldest nephew or how excited she would get when my sister would come and get her for the weekend. I just want people to know, even though she is gone, Zoë will live forever in the hearts and memories of those she touched in her short life.”