Sol Rapoport
Jerry Guon and Darrell Robb have been friends for years.
They both attended Pierce College-Guon in the 1950s when it was still the Clarence W. Pierce College of Agriculture, and Robb in the 1980s, studying computer science.
But that’s not where they met.
They’ve both lived in the San Fernando Valley for most of their lives, studying and working locally.
But that’s not where they became acquainted either.
Guon and Robb met as they lay side by side at UCLA Medical Center. They were roommates in the hospital while they underwent liver transplants.
They now participate as speakers in a joint program with Donate Life, an organ and tissue donor registry, and the American Red Cross.
The pilot program debuted at Pierce’s blood drive last month, where Guon, 76, and Robb, 55, spoke to blood donors, exalting the virtues of organ donation.
“We’re here offering encouragement for people who donate blood to also be organ donors,” said Guon.
Guon spoke of a direct link between donating blood and participating in organ transplant surgeries.
“Without blood donations I would be dead,” he said. “They had to have 40 pints of blood for my surgery. If the blood wouldn’t have been available, the surgery wouldn’t even have been performed.”
According to Donate Life, each year more than 7,000 donors make possible more than 25,000 organ transplants.
Despite that, more than 90,000 people currently await life-saving organ transplants.
The organization stresses that potential donors should designate on their driver’s licenses or in a living will that they wish to be organ donors upon their deaths.
It is also important that people alert their loved ones of their decision so their wishes are carried out.
An average of 18 people die each day due to a lack of available organs. Liver recipients can expect to be on the transplant list for an average of five years.
“Today, because of the donation shortage, it’s rare for a person to get an organ who’s not on the verge of death,” said Guon. “If everyone who could donate would, we wouldn’t have this dilemma.”
Robb, who contracted Hepatitis B during his service in the Vietnam War, was asymptomatic for years.
It wasn’t until his illness suddenly went critical that he was considered for a transplant.
“I walked into the hospital and that’s the last I remember,” Robb said. “I went into a coma for a week. That pushed me to the top of the list.”
Guon had a similar experience. When his bile duct disease flared up a few years ago, his situation became dangerous.
“I was within days of dying and got lucky,” he said. “A nurse called me with the good news just in time.”
Students at the blood drive seemed receptive to the message of giving touted by the speakers.
“Listening to them talk-you never know when something’s gonna stop working,” said Elena Medina. “So I’m really gonna think about it.”
Charles Kenworthy, 22, went to donate blood, but said the organ recipients’ words resonated strongly with him.
“I thought they were very nice people with words of advice and wisdom,” he said. “I really appreciate their insight.”
The speaker program, the only one of its kind in the U.S., began in March and is slated to continue indefinitely.
Red Cross Charge Nurse Jessica Farrell, who helped to put the program together, was enthusiastic about including it in future events.
“This is a really special program,” she said. “We would like to have them come out as much as possible.” Farrell hopes the program’s prospects for increasing participation in the donation process will be strong.
“We’re trying to raise awareness,” she said. “Organ donations are just so low. We’re just not givers here in California.”
People of all ages are eligible to be organ donors. Donate Life stresses that a variety of donors is vital, since organs are distributed based upon medical information like blood type, body size and tissue type matching.
Every donor can save and enhance the lives of up to 50 people, according to Donate Life.
Vera Guon has accompanied her husband Jerry through every moment of his surgery and recovery process.
Guon, who worked as a secretary at Pierce for more than 10 years, says she is deeply grateful for the organ donors that saved her husband’s life.
Accordingly, she supports his involvement with Donate Life and other organ procurement organizations. “This is a way of giving back,” she said. “Many people receive organs and then don’t do anything else. This is a way of giving back for a miracle.” Robb, who is now a registered organ donor himself, agrees.
“I’m extremely grateful, believe me,” he said. “I participate in drives like this precisely because I’m so grateful. It’s my way of giving back the gift I’ve been given.”
Student participation in the blood drive, as well as the profound interest in organ donation they encountered, impressed the speakers.
“The students have been very generous,” said Robb. “I want to thank everyone that’s been giving blood. They’re saving a life every time they come in and donate.”
Gratitude seemed to permeate the Campus Center.
Red Cross volunteers remarked on the ample turnout, students thanked the speakers for their time and the recipients spoke often of their appreciation.
“We are allowed to send the family of the donor a thank you letter,” said Robb. “But I don’t know who they are. It’s up to the family if they want to contact us.
“I’d love to see the family so I can thank them and show them their precious gift isn’t being wasted.”