NJ Brothers Reflect On Their Inspiring Liver Donation, 10 Years Later

LIVINGSTON, NJ — It has been 10 years since Jared Wohl of Livingston donated more than half of his liver to his younger brother, Cameron Wohl of Little Falls, opening up a new chapter in both of their lives. Now – a decade later – the siblings continue to be strong voices for organ and tissue donation in New Jersey.
And they wouldn’t have it any other way, they say.
In February 2014, Jared Wohl, then 27, donated 65 percent of his liver to Cameron, then 24, who was battling primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), a rare autoimmune disease impacting the bile ducts of the liver.
Thankfully, the transplant succeeded. And since then, the brothers have become staunch advocates for organ donation.
In 2013, leading up to the transplant, the brothers founded The Wave Set, an organization aimed at raising awareness and educating the public about the importance of organ and tissue donation – while showing the world that “We Are Vital to Each Other.”
Now a named fund of the Sharing Network Foundation, The Wave Set has continued its efforts to advocate for donor registration and support families.
In 2016, the Wohl brothers launched a crowdfunded documentary, “65 Percent,” depicting their family’s journey through the transplant experience and offering a poignant look at the impact of organ donation. Watch it online here.
Since then, Jared and Cameron have been organizing speaking engagements and fundraising events to support The Wave Set’s mission.
In a heartfelt celebration of the 10th anniversary of their lifesaving liver transplant, they recently announced a philanthropic contribution of $10,000 to the Sharing Network Foundation. This gift will support the newly established Joseph S. Roth Simulation Center, a state-of-the-art training facility at the headquarters of the NJ Sharing Network, a federally designated nonprofit organization that helps facilitate the recovery of donated organs and tissue in the Garden State.
With Cameron’s PSC in remission and the recent birth of his son, Lucas John, the Wohl family has much to celebrate these days.
Cameron’s post-transplant journey led him to pursue a career in health care. After becoming a registered nurse, he worked in the operating room at University Hospital in Newark, where he had the chance to collaborate with one of the surgeons from his transplant team. Cameron now works as a field clinical specialist, introducing new therapies to physicians to optimize patient outcomes.
Meanwhile, Jared works as a senior account director in SAAS sales, partnering with higher education institutions to strategize ways to improve their academic offerings, fuel skill development for staff and faculty, hire top talent and support student career-readiness. He is also a singer-songwriter and the proud father of two young boys.
“It’s surreal to see how far we’ve come since the transplant,” Jared said. “When I’m having a tough day, I’ll occasionally think back, and it helps give much needed perspective on how fragile life is and what’s really important – our health. And to see my brother and nephew, it’s just incredible.”
His brother echoed these sentiments.
“I’m so grateful to have my health,” Cameron said. “I think of all the things I’ve done in the time span since my transplant – going back to school, picking up hockey again, changing careers, starting a family. It helped shape me into the person I am and the outlook I have.”
To learn more, get involved, or join the National Donate Life Registry as an organ and tissue donor, visit www.NJSharingNetwork.org.
Send local news tips and correction requests to [email protected]. Learn more about advertising on Patch here. Find out how to post announcements or events to your local Patch site. Don’t forget to visit the Patch Livingston Facebook page.
link