2016 Donna Lee Jones Moritsugu

Donna Lee Jones Moritsugu_Order of St. LazarusDONNA LEE JONES MORITSUGU

Organ, Tissue, and Cornea Donor

Age 37 ~ Silver Spring, MD

Donated on 10/28/1992

at Suburban Hospital

Honored by www.st-lazarus.net

Donna Lee Jones Moritsugu was a vibrant, friendly, and outgoing person, who cared for others in everything she did.  Trained as a classical ballet dancer, she had been invited to pursue her career with the Royal Ballet.  A loving and devoted wife, and an accomplished professional, she was truly the wind beneath the wings of her husband. Donna’s life was lost in a tragic automobile accident, not even half a  mile from home. Previous discussions with her husband led him to donate her organs and tissue.  Her family was able to take solace and comfort in their tragic loss, knowing that Donna’s legacy would live on in those who received her gifts of life.
Donna’s Story

Donna Lee Jones Moritsugu was a vibrant, friendly, and outgoing person, who cared for others in everything she did.  Trained as a classical ballet dancer, she had been invited to pursue her career with the Royal Ballet.  A loving and devoted wife, and an accomplished professional, she was truly the wind beneath the wings of her husband, a prominent public health physician.

Donna died in a tragic automobile accident, not a half mile from home, at the age of 37.

Because it had been discussed previously, Donna became an organ and tissue donor.  Through her gifts, she helped several people regain their lives and improved the quality of their lives through the donation of her organs, gave renewed sight to two people through the donation of her corneas, and improved the lives of countless others through bone and tissue:
• a man in Tampa, Florida, received her heart, and a new lease on life for seven years;
• a teenage boy in Washington, DC, failing in school because of his disease, received a kidney and pancreas;
• a hospital custodian received her other kidney;
• a woman in Pennsylvania received her liver, and she was able to enjoy a bit more of life, for herself, and for those around her;
• a young woman in Baltimore, MD, received one cornea; and
• a government worker received the other.

Donna’s family is able to take solace and comfort in their tragic loss, knowing that her legacy was one of life, so consistent with her philosophy of living.  She is the shining example of the impact of organ and tissue donation and transplantation: the ripples of life that go far beyond the donor and the recipients, but extend to families and friends, colleagues and coworkers, neighborhoods and communities, and society itself!