While that may not sound all that impressive a list to many, most people have not undergone a very rare heart-liver transplant and been given a second chance at life as Bustamante has.   After suddenly passing out last June and suffering two minor heart attacks, this 58-year-old grandmother from Tulare went into tailspin health-wise. Within one year, she was diagnosed with congestive heart failure, a condition that triggered a long series of hospital stays.   In February, she was airlifted to Reagan UCLA Medical Center, where Dr. Michael Lee, assistant clinical professor of cardiology, performed a five-hour angioplasty. He cautioned the family, however, that only half of her heart was functioning.      To survive, she needed a new heart, doctors told her. But getting her on the transplant list wasn't so simple. She also needed a new liver because hers was deteriorating from an unrelated disease. Coupled with the fact that she was so sick and nearly 60 years old, the team was not sure that she could survive the surgery. In March, she went home on medications, but her condition continued to worsen over the next few months.     By June, she was back at UCLA because she had developed acute renal failure requiring dialysis, respiratory failure requiring a mechanical ventilator and a weakening heart that required a pump to maintain the perfusion of her organs.   “Unlike other patients who may benefit from a temporary or permanent mechanical heart pump, this was not option in patients with severe liver disease like hers,” said Dr. Ali Nsair, associate medical director of the heart assist device program at UCLA.     The team of transplant doctors from both the heart and liver programs continued to review her case and discussed at length if the surgery could help the extremely high-risk patient.    Meanwhile, Gudelia’s faith and optimism never faltered. The retired Tulare City School District employee crocheted beautiful blankets from her bed in the hospital’s critical care unit.  The nurses, who made Gudelia feel more comfortable and at ease, came into her room to admire her skilled handiwork.     Her husband, Bob, who retired from California Dairy in Fresno to take care of Gudelia, also remained optimistic. They talked in-depth about whether or not she wanted a transplant, given the high-risk nature of the surgery.     “I’m not ready to die yet,” she said.     Then she turned a corner.   “When her organ function started to improve, it became an indication that her organs could fully recover if circulation could be reestablished with a heart and liver transplant,” said Dr. Mario Deng, medical director of the UCLA Heart Transplant program. “At this point, the team agreed that she could withstand the surgery and would be a good candidate for transplantation.”

With that decision, Gudelia found herself on the list for transplantation with 1-A status, the most urgent category, and the wait began.   About three weeks later, on July 31, the miraculous news arrived — a perfect heart and liver donor had been found.  Her new organs were transplanted in a 10-hour surgery led by Dr. Abbas Ardehali, professor of cardiothoracic surgery and director of the UCLA Heart Transplant program, and Dr. Ronald Busuttil, chairman of the department of surgery, chief of the division of liver and pancreas transplantation, and director of the Dumont-UCLA Transplant and Liver Cancer  centers.   According to the most current data from United Network of Organ Sharing which manages the nation’s organ transplant system, she is only one of 12 Californians, including three Hispanics, to have received a heart-liver transplant.   “This is a very complex procedure, and you need the expertise and experience that you find at a large academic transplant center like UCLA to successfully perform such an operation,” said Busuttil. “The family was incredibly gracious and very upbeat and optimistic. They never doubted that they had made the right choice to do this and picked the right team to do it. They had great confidence from day one.”   When she was discharged from the hospital, Gudelia and her husband had to live near UCLA to undergo follow-up appointments and tests.  However, after only two months post-transplant, she was allowed to move back home because she was doing so well.  

The entire Bustamante family is grateful to the donor and their family who graciously donated their loved ones organs to save Gudelia’s life.     As Hispanics, they hope their story will help educate their community that organ donation saves lives.   “Many Hispanics don’t believe in organ donation, but this gift gave my wife a new life,” said Bob. “All of our family members are registered organ donors now. “   Along with their three children, seven grandchildren, friends and family, Gudelia and Bob have one more cause for celebration. On Sept. 28, they celebrated their 39th wedding anniversary.   “I have a lot of faith in God and feel like he has a special plan for me,” said Gudelia.     To sign up to become an organ donor, visit www.donatelifecalifornia.org.   To learn more about organ transplantation at UCLA, visit www.transplants.ucla.edu.