Mother’s Day Tribute: NJ Mom Spreads Awareness About Organ Donation While Honoring Her Son’s Lifesaving Legacy
(HOPATCONG, NJ) – This Mother’s Day, Geri Cranmer of Hopatcong, NJ, is finding strength and purpose by honoring her beloved son, Sean Thomas Cranmer, whose selfless gift of organ and tissue donation continues to save and enhance lives across the country.
Although Sean passed away tragically on July 28, 2024, at just 22 years old, his legacy lives on in the hearts of his loved ones - and in the lives of the many people he helped through donation. Geri is sharing Sean’s story to raise awareness about NJ Sharing Network’s lifesaving mission and to inspire others to give the gift of life by registering as organ and tissue donors.
“Sean was full of faith, compassion, and love,” said Geri. “The miracle of Sean and the life he gave to his organ and tissue recipients gives me comfort and strength through this difficult time. His spirit is so strong that his time on Earth continues to have a ripple effect on others. If I can inspire others by spreading his love, light, and sharing his story, I will do so in any way I can.”
Through his decision to register as an organ and tissue donor, Sean gave the gift of life to an 18-year-old man in Texas, two men in their 40s from Georgia and Illinois, a man in his 60s from Arizona, and a 70-year-old woman in Louisiana. He also enhanced the lives of many others through eye and tissue donation.
Geri continues to honor Sean by speaking about donation, sharing his story, and leaving small figurines of Jesus with a message that “Sean would have loved them to have a little Jesus in their lives.”
“These gestures have touched so many,” said Geri. “People reach out to me, often in tears, saying how much Sean’s story has impacted their lives. Sean’s love and light continues to spread throughout the world.”
Sean’s family and loved ones remember Sean as a man of strong faith and deep compassion. As one of his close friends shared, “He taught people how to love and be loved.” Sean lived a full and adventurous life, fulfilling all his dreams. He traveled the world, visiting Thailand, Turkey, Egypt, and Japan. While in Japan, he met an elderly man who told him, “It was worth living to be able to talk to you.”
Sean eventually drove his van to Louisiana to pursue his passion for commercial diving. In his journal, he wrote that he knew “God had a plan for him.” He was working toward becoming a Dive Medic with the goal of “saving at least one life.”
Now, through the eyes of a grieving mother, Sean’s dream lives on in the most meaningful way.
“The kindness and care we have received from NJ Sharing Network and the Louisiana Organ Procurement Agency (LOPA) have given our family tremendous comfort and support,” said Geri. “They have been so understanding and help me honor my son in the best way possible."
Sean’s family has also established scholarship funds to help others pursue their dreams, ensuring that his passion for adventure and helping others will continue to inspire future generations.
This Mother’s Day, NJ Sharing Network celebrates all donor moms like Geri who, even in the face of unthinkable loss, turn their grief into hope for others.
“As a mom, Geri understands how precious every moment is. Thanks to her son Sean’s gifts, other moms are celebrating Mother’s Day with their sons by their side and families are creating new memories together. It’s a beautiful reminder of how the gift can bring life, hope, and healing to so many,” said Carolyn M. Welsh, President and CEO of NJ Sharing Network.
According to the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), over 100,000 Americans are waiting for a lifesaving organ transplant, with nearly 4,000 of them in New Jersey. One organ and tissue donor can save eight lives and enhance the lives of over 75 others.
While the opportunity to give the gift of life is rare, it is truly precious. Less than 1% of all deaths meet the specific medical criteria to become an organ donor, which highlights the importance of encouraging more people to register as donors. Every new donor registration brings hope, helping to save and enhance lives.
To learn more about organ donation, get involved, and join the National Donate Life Registry, visit www.NJSharingNetwork.org.
PHOTO CAPTION – The Cranmer Family (l-r) Jason, Thomas, Geri, Sean, and James.