Heart Transplant Recipients and Donor Families Share Stories of Hope, Healing and Inspiration

OneLegacy, the leading organ, eye, and tissue recovery organization serving seven counties in Southern California is celebrating Heart Health Month and National Donor Day by sharing the stories of local heart transplant recipients and donor families, stressing the importance of organ donation and heart health, while encouraging Southern Californians to do their annual health checkups during the month of February.

Thousands of Americans are currently living with heart disease, and a significant number may eventually need a lifesaving heart transplant. As the leading cause of death in the United States, heart disease remains a significant public health challenge. Prioritizing preventative care and healthy lifestyle choices is essential to decrease the likelihood of heart failure and the need for a heart transplant.

Three Southern California residents and OneLegacy Ambassadors, who participated as riders on the 2026 OneLegacy Donate Life Rose Parade® float, suffered a series of chronic or sudden health conditions that led them to experience heart failure and eventually receive lifesaving heart transplants.

When Elsa Garcia-Chau, a retired teacher from Santa Fe Springs, was diagnosed with heart failure, she decided to continue with her busy life until hospitalizations from her heart condition began to take a toll on her life. At age 59, Elsa received a lifesaving heart transplant from a generous donor. Her donated heart has allowed Elsa to return to a quality of life full of laughter, game nights, and hugging grandkids. Although Elsa has retired from teaching in Santa Ana, California, she remains active in the transplant community as a volunteer Ambassador for OneLegacy.

After being diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension in Mexico, Isabel Sabori made the difficult decision to leave everything behind in her small town of Benjamín Hill, Sonora and move to the United States, seeking specialized medical care. Despite continuous care, her heart and lungs eventually began to fail, and she relied on oxygen around the clock. In 2013, she was listed on the transplant waiting list for a heart and double lung transplant, and later that year, she received a second chance at life. Today, Isabel volunteers her time as a OneLegacy Ambassador, sharing her story and inspiring the Hispanic community to say "YES" to organ donation.

Jamie Alcroft is a comedian, author, voice actor, and dedicated OneLegacy Ambassador, whose life and career are grounded in creativity, laughter, and gratitude. In 2005, Jamie suffered a “widow maker” heart attack while on a plane at 30,000 feet, which became the catalyst of a series of health issues that resulted in heart failure and the need for a lifesaving heart and liver transplant. After receiving the gift of life in 2017, Jamie made it his mission to inspire others by sharing his story of resilience and renewal, using humor as a bridge to talk about the power of donation.

These heart transplant recipients would have not been able to continue with their life journeys without the generosity of those who said “YES” to organ, eye and tissue donation. While the majority of people in the United States and around the world celebrated Valentine’s Day on February 14 this past weekend, the donation and transplantation community also observed National Donor Day, a special celebration honoring organ, eye and tissue donors and the lives they saved and healed with their gifts.

For Anginette Morgan, a Certified Nurse Assistant, phlebotomist and mother, the power of organ, eye and tissue donation has given her hope after tragedy. Her daughter, Raejonette Morgan, was a vibrant and loving young woman whose life was tragically cut short on July 4, 2024, at the age of 22. As the youngest of three children, Raejonette brought immense joy and excitement to those around her, particularly her mother. Despite her untimely passing, Raejonette's legacy lives on through the lives she touched and the generous gift of organ donation.

Through this selfless act, Raejonette's heart, liver, and kidneys were donated to those in need, allowing her spirit to continue making a difference in the world. This extraordinary gesture not only saved lives but also brought solace and comfort to her loved ones, especially her mother. “As a healthcare professional, I would like to encourage everyone to be an advocate of their health, and to also register as donors. My daughter saved countless lives as an organ and tissue donor, and you can also save many more by getting the pink donor dot on your California driver’s license or ID.”

On National Donor Day, donor families honored the memory of their loved ones and the gifts they gave. Grateful recipients like Elsa Garcia-Chau, Isabel Sabori and Jamie Alcroft also celebrated this special observance by recognizing the life-changing generosity of their donors and by making every day count.

“My life adventure continues because a generous person checked the ‘YES’ box,” said Elsa Garcia-Chau. “I am now active in the transplant community as an advocate, a volunteer Ambassador for OneLegacy, and a Womenheart Champion, raising awareness for women who are at risk of or living with heart disease. I also enjoy my abuela duties as CEO of playdough and silly storytime.”

“Because of my donor, I have watched my beloved nieces and nephews grow, and I now embrace each new day with gratitude,” said Isabel Sabori. “I hope that local Hispanic communities can relate to my story and help others by getting the pink donor dot on their license.”

“Thanks to my donor, I can continue enjoying time with my wife, children and grandchildren, and I have dedicated my life to sharing the importance of organ, eye and tissue donation in the comedy world with initiatives like LAFF4LIFE, a national program that offers registered organ, eye, and tissue donors free tickets to IMPROV and Levity Live comedy clubs,” said Jamie Alcroft. “This Heart Health Month, I would like to remind our local communities to choose the gift of life when registering as an organ, eye and tissue donor.”

OneLegacy has been a national leader in organ donation and transplantation for decades, working tirelessly to care for donor families and transplant recipients. Share the love during the month of February. Give the gift of life by registering as an organ, eye and tissue donor at onelegacy.org/register.

For more information about OneLegacy and its services, visit www.onelegacy.org.

About OneLegacy

OneLegacy is the nonprofit organization dedicated to saving lives through organ, eye and tissue donation in Southern California, including Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Ventura, Santa Barbara and Kern counties. Serving a diverse population of more than 20 million people, OneLegacy partners with over 200 hospitals and 9 transplant centers, to ensure that lifesaving organs and tissues are recovered and transplanted for waiting recipients. Make the choice today, become an organ, eye and tissue donor by registering online at OneLegacy.org/register or by “checking YES” at your local DMV. For more information, visit OneLegacy.org.

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