Gilbert Frank Rivera was an athletic young man who loved team sports and skateboarding. Raised in Santa Ana, he was very loyal and motivated and a wonderful son, sometimes surprising his mother by cleaning the house before she even awakened. When he was 20, he was shot and passed away the next day. In the past, he had expressed his wish to donate his liver to help an uncle, so his mother, Georgette, consented to donate his organs, tissue and corneas. He saved the lives of two men and three women.

Gilbert's Story

Gilbert Frank Rivera was a very athletic, healthy and handsome young man. He loved playing football and baseball, but above all, he loved skateboarding. Born in Montebello, he was raised in Orange County and graduated from Santa Ana High School in 2005.

Gilbert was full of life and could light up a room just with his smile alone. He loved music, family gatherings and was a loyal friend, as well as a self-starter and very motivated. Since he was five years old, as soon as he needed to start raising money for summer camp he eagerly started helping neighbors with their yards or cleaning garages.

Sometimes his mother, Georgette Rivera, would wake up to find the house clean. "What happened?" she would ask. Gilbert and his two younger brothers had cleaned because they knew she was tired. After she taught him how to use the laundry and dishwasher at 13, he would always do these chores himself and without having to be asked.

On November 11, 2007, when he was only 20 years old, he was shot. The next day he was pronounced brain dead by two physicians. His body was strong and healthy, and Georgette remembered the conversation that he had with her some years back when he wanted to give his liver to an ill uncle. Gilbert's grandmother had also been on dialysis for six years, so the family knew of the need for organs for transplant.

"He donated his heart, lungs, kidneys, liver, pancreas and corneas, although the corneas could not be placed," Georgette said. "Five people's lives have been touched by my son's gifts – two men and three women. One day I want to tell them about how he is missed and how much he was loved."