[Sen. Runner] – State Sen. Sharon Runner, who successfully underwent a double-lung transplant in February, recognized her UCLA and UC Davis doctors for their commitment to saving lives, and urged Californians to register as organ donors.

“With their warm smiles and encouraging words, these UC doctors give patients hope,” said Runner, R-Lancaster. “These doctors and their teams are talented and generous individuals.”

Runner added, “Doctors Ross, Ardehali and Allen and their devoted team push for state-of-the-art technology for the care of their patients. If it were not for their passion and dedication to operate on patients with complex medical conditions, UCLA and UC Davis medical centers would not be the successful programs that they are today.”

With its cutting-edge technology, UCLA offers aggressive treatment for patients in their heart and lung transplant program that no other facility in the country or world provides.

A limited scleroderma patient, Runner caught several respiratory infections in December 2011 which led to her reenlistment on the organ transplant list. There are an estimated 300,000 people living with scleroderma; and nearly 80 percent are women. Runner received a double lung transplant in February.

In a brief reprieve from their grueling end-of-session workload, the State Senate praised UCLA surgeons David Ross and Abbas Ardehali and UC Davis pulmonologist Roblee Allen. These three physicians treated Runner during her wait for surgery, the operation itself and throughout her recovery.

In their acceptance remarks, the physicians stressed the importance of organ donation.

“Organ donation saves lives. It is the ultimate act of humanity and we ask everyone to sign up,” said Dr. David Ross.