Kidney Donors and Recipients

The Micke Grove Workers

By Neil Gonzales, Record Staff Writer

The four Micke Grove Park maintenance workers enjoy comparing war stories. Actually in their case, it's organ-donor tales.

"My scar is bigger than your scar," Jessie Sepulveda said, chuckling as he, Ruben Gusman, Juan Marroquin and Dennis Galapon talked last week about the surprising tie that binds them.

This quartet makes the park's maintenance department a kind of poster child for organ donations.

Between 1995 and 2001, Sepulveda, Gusman and Marroquin donated a kidney to a family member while Galapon received part of his son's liver.

It was only recently that all of them realized their common experience -- a similarity that has brought them closer together as friends and coworkers. It also has motivated them to make others aware of the importance of organ donations from the living.

"From this one little section, it's really surprising that out of nine (maintenance employees) we three gave something to keep someone alive and one received something," said Sepulveda, 51, of Stockton. "We hope people see this. Our message is you don't have to die to donate an organ. So many people out there need an organ."

There are 15,000 Californians waiting for organ donations. Most need a kidney transplant, with smaller numbers needing liver, heart, lung and kidney/pancreas transplants, according to statistics. But only about 200 donors provide organs each year in the state, meaning most prospective recipients must expect a long wait.

In 1995, Sepulveda donated a kidney to his diabetic father-in-law, Ernie Holguin. "His kidney was shutting down," Sepulveda said.

About five years later, Sepulveda learned that Gusman was going to get a similar operation, and offered support.

"I talked to Jessie a little bit," said Gusman, 44, of Stockton. "He just reassured me."

Gusman donated a kidney to his sister, Rachel Azevedo. "She was really sick," Gusman said. "She was on dialysis and in the hospital every month."

Last March, Marroquin, 30, of Lodi donated a kidney to his 2-year-old son, Issac.

The boy was born with prune belly syndrome, a disease partly characterized by a lack of stomach muscles that causes the kidney to backup with urine.

In Galapon's case, it was his son who made the organ donation.

Several years ago, Galapon, 52, of Manteca found out he had contracted hepatitis C. "My liver was already failing," Galapon said.

He had long suffered from one of the symptoms -- an extreme, allergic reaction to cold that caused him to break out in hives and itch. He later had mental slowdowns and blackouts.

But in October, he received part of a liver from him son, 20-year-old Christopher Galapon.

All the donors and recipients are recovering well.

"This rewarding experience has caused personal growth in each of (the four) as they reassessed life's priorities," said Dave Beadles, administrator for the San Joaquin County Parks and Recreation Department.

The experience has also developed into a strong bond among the four.

"We've gotten a lot closer," Marroquin said.

They've become familiar with each other's operations, comparing procedures and even scars. Moreover, they've come to know more about each other's families.

They plan a big family gathering once everyone has fully recovered, Gusman said.

The fact the four also happen to be members of ethnic minorities-Sepulveda, Gusman and Marroquin are Latino while Galapon is Filipino-American-is just another coincidence but something they hope to turn into a poignant example.

"Especially in the Hispanic community, they don't understand (living organ donations) can be done," Gusman said. "We're living proof it can be done."