Arthur Joven "AJ" Reyes was a college student when a rare viral infection began to destroy his heart. With only a mechanical heart keeping him alive, at the age of 25 AJ received the new heart he needed. With his new heart working well, AJ is currently following up his B.A. in Healthcare Administration with a second degree. As a Donate Life Ambassador, he encourages other members of the Filipino community to register as donors. AJ also trains for and runs half-marathons – something he never would have thought was possible before his heart transplant. "I am doing it to honor my donor," said AJ. "I don't want this gift to have been made in vain."

AJ's Story

At the end of 2010, it didn't look like Arthur Joven "AJ" Reyes would even make it to his next birthday, much less to age 28. AJ was a college student when a rare viral infection began to destroy his heart. He found himself in the hospital and suddenly on the waiting list for a lifesaving heart transplant, with only a mechanical heart keeping him alive.

Whether AJ lived or died became a waiting game. His mother Tessa, a nurse and educator, was convinced that AJ wasn't going to make it. But at the end of November 2010, at the age of 25, AJ received the new heart he needed.

Now, AJ is healthy, and enjoys cooking and spending time with friends and family when he has free time from his classwork. AJ is currently working on a second degree after recently earning a Bachelor's Degree in Healthcare Administration from Sacramento State University.

He has also become a Donate Life Ambassador for the California Transplant Donor Network to encourage other members of the Filipino community to register as organ and tissue donors and save lives. He was able to meet the family of his donor in September.

With his new heart working well, AJ also trains for and runs half-marathons – something he never would have thought was possible before his heart transplant. He has run three half-marathons so far and will run again in May and August.

"Once when I was running at Mile 11, my friends asked why I was doing this," he recalled. "I told them, 'I am doing it to honor my donor.' I started tearing up. I don't want this gift to be in vain."