Joseph "Joey" Savage

Type of Donation:          organs, tissue and corneas

Age and Location:          Age 25 – Newton, NJ

Donation Date:             10/18/2017

Sponsor:                   Honored by MTF with Sharing Network Foundation

JOSEPH’S STORY

Joseph (Joey) C. Savage, IV, was always full of life and energy. His many friends and family members simply loved to be around him because he had a joyful, larger than life personality, and he was always doing something fun and active, like shooting hoops, fishing, snowboarding, jet skiing and going to concerts and music festivals. He was also an incredibly skilled union and labor worker in New York City.

On October 17, 2017, Joey passed away at the age of 25 due to a tragic car accident. Although the hearts of Joey’s loved ones were shattered, it gave them peace to know that a special part of Joey will continue to live on thanks to his selfless decision to register as an organ and tissue donor.

Joey saved the lives of four people in need of organs, which included his heart, two kidneys and liver. His corneas gave the gift of sight back to two young men and his tissue donations have also enhanced the lives of 126 people.

In 2018, Joey’s touching story of hope took another amazing turn. Joey’s mother, Heather Prutzman, was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma. She needed major spine surgery and a spinal fusion to stabilize her spine due to her cancer. Thanks to the coordinated efforts of NJ Sharing Network and MTF Biologics, Heather underwent a successful spine surgery that included two of Joey’s donated bone grafts that were a perfect match! This marked the first child donor to parent recipient in the history of the NJ Sharing Network and MTF Biologics. According to Heather, “This was Joey’s way of saying ‘Keep going mom, I got your back, you got this.’”

Heather was also able to meet Jim, the recipient of Joey's heart. As she listened to Joey’s heartbeat inside of Jim, she whispered, “I love you buddy always and forever.”