Jesus Nava experienced a heart attack and stroke that led to the need for a new heart. He spent a year hospitalized until a young African-American teenager donated his heart. Since then, Jesus has reopened his real estate business, met his donor’s mother, and volunteered in the hospital to help others waiting for live-saving organs.

Jesus's Story

For years, Jesus Nava, 63, had a very successful business and enjoyed life. But at the end of December 2003, he had a heart attack and stroke and was hospitalized for nearly a month. Recuperating at home, his health worsened and he was hospitalized again. After doctors determined that he needed a heart transplant, he was transferred to UCLA Medical Center. The news did not come as a total surprise to Jesus, who had been suffering from heart problems for about eight years.

Jesus’ condition worsened each day. With only hours to live, he underwent emergency surgery to implant an assist device (LVAD) to help his ailing heart while he waited for a suitable donor heart. Although the operation was successful, additional surgery was required shortly thereafter. He spent almost a year in the hospital hooked up to the LVAD, waiting for a new heart, which he finally received on May 5, 2005, from Jemil Jamison, an African-American teenager.

”I never expected to have to stay in the hospital for so long. All of a sudden, material things were not a priority any more. I learned to appreciate the simple things in life such as going out of my hospital room to the patio to get a ray of sun,” Jesus remembered. “I promised myself that if God gave me a new chance, I wanted to fulfill three dreams: go back to work to feel useful, but not to set money as my priority; do everything possible to get to know my donor’s family to show my unbounded gratitude; and use this new opportunity to help others by giving my time and words of wisdom.”

Jesus has been able to fulfill all three of his dreams. He re-opened his real estate business just months after his transplant; he had the opportunity to meet Denise Armstrong, the mother of his donor; and he’s been volunteering in the hospital, bringing some solace to those waiting for organs and to their families to help them get through this difficult time. In addition, he is a Donate Life Ambassador with a strong commitment to spreading the word about organ donation and educating the Latino community about the need to give the gift of life.

“I feel so blessed to have gone through this experience in my life,” said Jesus. “I have learned so much from it. It has made me a better person and I want to share this wisdom with others. In addition, I have encountered so many interesting people, since I joined OneLegacy and started to visit the hospital on a regular basis, that I feel I’ve got a new profession now and that God is using me as a tool to do his work here on earth.”