Jersey Day: A life-saving conversation 

When Nathan Gremmo's life was cut tragically short at the age of 13, his grieving family decided to give others the chance to survive.

Their decision to donate his organs saved the lives of six people – five young adults and a baby.

Nine years since he died in hospital after being hit by a car while crossing the road, Nathan's other legacy is also helping to give people a lifeline.

Jersey Day is an annual event his family set up in 2015 to raise awareness about organ donation.

"We would love everyone to have this conversation with their loved ones, as saying you would like to donate is not enough. It's important that your family know your wishes," said his younger sister Annaliese Gremmo, a nursing student who works at Sydney Adventist Hospital.

Staff at New South Wales' largest private hospital, also known as the San, marked Jersey Day 2024 on Friday 30 August by wearing their favourite sporting shirts.

Nathan was a keen rugby league player, and his favourite NRL team was Parramatta Eels, while his father Michael is President of Hills Bulls Sports Club – which his own dad helped to start in 1963.

"It was great to see so many staff involved on the day, and I hope that we have played a small part in creating further awareness on this very worthy cause," Adventist HealthCare CEO Brett Goods said.

<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full is-resized"><img src="phnews.org.au/wp-content/uploads/San-Jersey-Day3.jpg" alt="San staff marked Jersey Day on Friday 30 August 2024" class="wp-image-16907" style="width:341px;height:auto"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">San staff marked Jersey Day on Friday 30 August 2024</figcaption></figure>

If you have not signed up to the Australian Organ Donor Register, the final decision is made by surviving family members at the time of death.

With only one in three Australians registered, and around 1,800 people on a waiting list for a transplant and another 1,000 on dialysis due to kidney failure, Jersey Day hopes to inspire change, spark discussions and ultimately save more lives.

"Each Jersey Day we are simply asking everybody to wear a jersey to school or work, and most importantly have a conversation with their friends and family about organ and tissue donation," Annaliese said on the Jersey Day website.

"Our family has endured the cruellest possible circumstances. I can only think that if our circumstances were reversed and Nathan was desperate for an organ donation, we would move heaven and earth to save my brother.

"However, the reality is that we would be waiting for a generous organ donor family to save Nathan's life."

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