After living with cardiomyopathy for seven years, Joe Darga was too weak to eat, his weight dropped to 103 pounds, and his only hope for survival was a heart transplant. A Stockton, Calif., family saved Joe’s life by saying ‘yes’ to organ donation. Joe was named OneLegacy’s Ambassador of the Year in 2005 for his extraordinary promotion of the Donate Life mission throughout Santa Barbara County.

Joe's Story

In 1995, Joe Darga was a healthy, 61-year-old married man with three children and five grandchildren. In early May, he noticed that he was struggling to get through his workdays as an aerospace quality test engineer. He tired easily, and his performance started slipping. Joe thought asthma was the cause; he consulted his allergist, who sent him to a cardiologist. After numerous tests, Joe found he had cardiomyopathy, a virus that had settled in his heart, which was slowly deteriorating. The illness forced him into early retirement.

For the next six years, Joe’s busy family and social life was replaced with numerous trips to the cardiologist, Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital, and UCLA Medical Center. In August 2001, his condition worsened. The only known cure was a heart transplant. In April 2002, Joe was placed on the heart transplant waiting list.

By June 2002, Joe was in the Cardiac Care Unit at UCLA Medical Center waiting for a heart transplant. He spent most of his time thinking of the wonderful times and family events he would never get to share or experience. He was 68 years old, too weak to eat, and his weight had dropped to 103 pounds. He was certain he was never going to receive a new heart.

Then, on June 29, 2002, Joe’s grandson’s 10th birthday, Joe received a heart from a 42-year old man from Stockton, CA. “With that gift, a new life began,” he said. “I realized that all those dreams of watching my grandchildren become young adults were going to really come true.

“During my recovery, I felt I must do something in return for this special gift. In 2003, I became an Ambassador volunteer for OneLegacy. I had a new perspective on life, living and giving, and a mission to promote donor awareness.”

Since then, Joe has shared his story with thousands of people at high schools, local organizations, churches, hospitals, and community events. He was named Ambassador of the Year by OneLegacy in 2005.

“Each morning when I awake, I thank God for this new life and that wonderful family from Stockton for saying, ‘yes,’ when asked if their loved one was an organ donor. I have been truly blessed. Life just does not get any better than this,” Joe proclaimed.