A Heart Full of Hope

Volunteer honored for helping other heart-transplant patients

As Bill Sears waited to undergo a heart transplant at UCLA, another transplant recipient, a volunteer named Tina, visited him in his room. She danced for him and tucked him in a warm blanket before his surgery and reassured him that everything would be fine.

That was nearly eight years ago, and Bill, who underwent two triple-bypass surgeries before his transplant in 2001, still remembers the kindness of Tina's simple gesture, which inspired him to help patients and their families as a volunteer. Today, Bill, 69, is the only volunteer in the heart-transplant program at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center who also is a heart-transplant recipient. For his dedication, Bill has received the Los Angeles Pearl Senior Citizens of the Year Award, which recognizes volunteers whose contributions improve the quality of life for Los Angeles' residents and promote a positive and productive image of senior citizens.

Bill, who finds great joy in sharing his experiences with other transplant patients, notes,"You never truly know unless you've been through it yourself, the spiritual, emotional and physical journey you go through." Putting his fingers to his wrist, he says, "My pulse is evidence that my life is from another person's death, a life I will never forget, and it is my responsibility to keep that heart going."

Lisa Harden, Volunteer Services coordinator, nominated Bill for the award, and hearttransplant patient Kelly Perkins wrote, "Bill's idea of happiness is giving to others and watching their joy, relief, happiness and return to health.

Bill also is on the board of directors of Hearts with Hope — founded by Juan Alejos, M.D., UCLA pediatric-heart-transplant surgeon — to provide medical and humanitarian assistance to Peruvian children with congenital heart disease.