Be Like Joe 238
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Suddenly, he was gone.

Joe Chairez, badge #238, died spontaneously while on duty as a police officer. Joe had it all. He was handsome, smart and driven by a real passion to help those in need. Joe was also in love and engaged to be married.

We follow Joe's dad through his non-stop public awareness efforts and see him shine as a beacon to donor families at the Transplant Games of America. We witness Joe’s fiancé come to terms with her loss in her own way and time.

Through multiple stories of grief and recovery, we learn about healthy grieving, what it means to be a donor family and plant the seed for an honest conversation about organ donation every family needs to have.
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Joe's Parents - Theresa and Jess Chairez
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Joe's fiancé Rebecca and Joe's Friends

"Very moving and persuasive. 
​The emotions are so clearly authentic that it will certainly save lives.”
 

- Reg Green, father of Nicholas Green, the little boy who was shot in Italy and whose organs were donated to seven Italians.

Rebecca Trailer - Now what?

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From the Director/Producer...
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In 1990 my healthy, one-year-old daughter caught a virus that attacked her heart. The damage done was so great she would need a new heart to survive. The wait was excruciating, but we were blessed to receive a heart from a baby boy named James, just in time.
We were never able to thank James’ family personally and my immense gratitude called me to pay it forward by telling a story from the perspective of a donor family.
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​Joe 238 is my first feature-length documentary in a series of stories documenting organ donation and transplantation from different perspectives. - Colleen Stymeist-Wood 


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​August 25, 2022
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JOE 238 RECEIVES DONATE LIFE HOLLYWOOD INSPIRE AWARD!
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The Donate Life Hollywood Inspire Awards recognize inspiring, authentic and positive portrayals of organ donation in film and television, which help save lives. Thank you DLH for seeing those qualities in JOE 238!
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​It was encouraging to be included among the nights other award winners including,
Grey’s Anatomy, Chicago Med, Last Chance Transplant, The Resident, 9-1-1 and Letters of Hope!
And to quote Grey’s Anatomy writer Mark Driscoll’s important line from his Inspire Award winning episode,
​“Never forget the giver of the gifts!”

What Viewers Are Saying

“People think talking about the donor family experience takes away from the shiny "gift of life", but it actually makes it more precious. The film was authentic and deeply moving. It makes you feel human.” - Chantelle Pence, Family Services Coordinator, Life Alaska Donor Services

"Beautifully done. Honoring. Respectful. Abundant kindness & love." - Frank

"I was already a registered organ donor, but this film solidified my decision to donate." - Monica

​"What a LOVELY film. Kudos, kudos. How raw and honest the fiance, friends, and parents were about their grief, anger, resentment…truly beautiful." - Emily 

"The film offers information the audience can evaluate in their decision to be an organ donor themselves. I'm honored to host a screening here in Rochester, NY for donor families, transplant coordinators, chaplains, police officers and Red Cross volunteers." - Richard

​"Wow, wow, wow. I cried, I laughed, I smiled...I was blown away. I could just feel the raw emotions of everyone involved. I loved the honesty. And Joe's dad's passion...amazing." - Jill Dillon, living kidney donor. 


"JOE 238 has the important element of cultural diversity as it shadows this Latino family going through the process of striving to heal. With the great need for organ donors within this community, this film documents what the loss of a loved one brings to a family… overwhelming grief, sorrow and at the same time, a desire to move forward, connect and give back." - Tracy Bryan, Former Director of Public Relations at Sierra Donor Services.

Contact Us!

colleen@withheartproductions.com
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