AGH honors Tarentum teen and fallen officer Sciullo as organ donors, lifesavers

It’s been 10 years since Max and Sue Sciullo lost their son and only five months since Joy Krumenacker lost her son, but the two families came together at Allegheny General Hospital on Monday to recognize the impact their children made on the lives of others through organ and tissue donation.

The Sciullos and Krumenacker were guest speakers at Allegheny Health Network’s kick-off to the observance of Donate Life Month, where they shared their experience and gratitude to the medical professionals with the Center for Organ Recovery & Education and the hospitals. Similar events will be held at each of the network’s hospitals throughout April.

The Sciullos’ son, Paul, was one of three Pittsburgh police officers killed in the line of duty on April 4, 2009. He was able to help dozens of people through tissue and cornea donations. Krumenacker’s teen son, Eli Bussotti, died in October from injuries sustained in a car accident. Bussotti, a senior at Highlands High School, was able to provide organs to seven people.

Krumenacker said seeing all of the people who Eli would help gave her comfort during an unimaginably tragic time.

“We weren’t getting to keep our Eli, but we were getting something new to hold onto,” Krumenacker said. “I know that love is vital to our survival, and my hope is that the love he was surrounded with is now felt by the recipients of his gifts.”

To honor the legacy of Paul Sciullo, several members of the Pittsburgh Police Department participated in the event and raised the organ donation flag to honor him.

“It was an honor to be included in today’s ceremony,” said Jason Lando, commander for Zone 5 of the police department. “Knowing that Paul was an organ donor and he lives on in the lives of so many other people just fills us with joy.”

The Sciullos have remained active with the police department, often stopping by to see the officers and attending events for both the department and organ donation. They were inspired to become organ donors after seeing the impact their son had on so many after his passing.

“Paul became a police officer because he wanted to make a difference in his life,” Sue Sciullo said. “Paul also became an organ donor to continue to make a difference in his death.”

Both families expressed their awe at the entire organ donation process and were honored to share who their sons were.

“When I think of my final moments with him, the emotion that I connect with most, aside from my deep love, is pride,” Krumenacker said of Eli’s decision to be an organ donor.

Heart transplant recipient Craig Smith also spoke during the event to show the impact that receiving an organ has had on his life. He received his transplant five years ago and has used the experience to educate others and share his story.

“Modern medicine will never cease to amaze me,” he said. “Three months after transplant, I was back in the woods hiking.

“That just goes to show you the absolute second chance a transplantation gives people and gets them back to a normal lifestyle.”