Louis Bonesio Jr.; Received Organs From Different Donors

Louis Bonesio Jr., 60, the world’s first recipient of two vital organs from different donors. Bonesio received a heart from one donor in 1974 and a kidney from another in 1985. The heart transplant surgery was performed at Stanford University Medical Center and the kidney transplant at UC San Francisco. Other multiple organ transplants have involved single donors. Bonesio was praised by medical personnel for his positive attitude and sense of humor, joking with doctors after the first transplant that he had “a 16-year-old heart and 40 years of experience.” He asked doctors to give him a new kidney, saying dialysis kept him from enjoying his life and community volunteer work. On Feb. 6 in Gilroy, Calif., of heart failure.