Connect

Pat Gutekenst received a lung transplant in 2015. At the time, he had been on the transplant list for a few years and was dependent on supplemental oxygen to live.

When he finally got the call that a set of lungs was available for him, he was in disbelief.

“I refused to believe that I was going to get the transplant,” he says, “and it wasn’t until a few days afterwards, that I finally admitted to myself, ‘Yes, I did get an organ transplant. I really did get new lungs. I really didn’t need supplemental oxygen anymore.’ I just couldn’t wrap my head around the fact that I was back on my feet, so to speak, and that I wasn’t gasping for air.”

The transplant was successful, and Gutekenst felt like he had received a new lease on life. Once he was able to accept the reality of his good news, he wanted to share his positive experience with others.

In November 2019, Gutekenst began working in the UVA Heart and Vascular Clinic as an Access Associate. He interacted with pre- and post-transplant patients and took every opportunity to strike up a conversation with them in hopes of providing some comfort in what he knows from experience is a stressful time.

“My experience interfacing with patients coming into the Heart Clinic to get qualified for organ transplant has been a godsend for me,” he says. “It’s warmed my heart by taking some of the fears, some of the concerns, and some of the fright out of the minds of these people who are going through the transplant process.”

Gutekenst has had several memorable conversations and created strong relationships, and a few stick out in his mind.

“Recently, I had an ECMO [extracorporeal membrane oxygenation] tech send a patient to me who was trying to get on the list for a lung transplant,” he says. “The patient was asking the tech questions, and she knew that I was a recipient, so she told him, ‘Go talk to Pat. He’ll be more than happy to talk with you, and you can ask him anything you want, and I know he’ll answer you.’ And I do. Maybe the conversation lasted 10 minutes. He was very timid when he first came up. By the time we were done talking, both us had teary eyes and were laughing together, and he left the room with a bounce in his step. That meant so much to me personally. The satisfaction that I got out of that I can’t quantify. It made it all worthwhile.”

In each interaction, Gutekenst hopes to leave the other person with a glimmer of hope.

“When I’m talking to someone who needs a transplant or has just gotten a transplant, I am talking about my personal experiences and what I went through,” he says. “’Look at me now, five years later. I’m zooming up and down the hallways. I’m talking to people. I’m acting like nothing ever happened. This could be you in five years.’ That really makes a difference to the patient. They’re seeing what all their work, all of their pain, all of their agony could lead to. To get to see that recognition in patients’ faces is priceless to me.”

Continuing the Mission One Way or Another

April 16 was Gutekenst’s last day as an Access Associate. He is switching from team member to volunteer, and he will continue in his new role with his mission of helping others.

“The big highlight for me is the emotional satisfaction and personal satisfaction that I’ve gained through this job, dispelling some of the fears, some of the concerns, and some of the misconceptions that a lot of patients have had. And getting a few laughs.”

His wife, Stacey, also joins him in his volunteer work. Together, they hope to be a light for someone with doubts, stresses, or worries.

“It is a small world, and we can make it a lot friendlier just by opening ourselves up a little bit and taking that chance,” he says.

April is National Donate Life Month. You can support the work of Gutenkenst and the UVA Transplant team by registering to be an organ donor at DonateLifeVirginia.org.

Thank you to organ donors and their families for giving someone a second chance at life!