Student's death spurs Lawndale fundraiser

The Daily Breeze | Rob Kuniza

Students and faculty at Lawndale High School have rallied for the family of a student who died nearly two weeks ago of an aneurysm, raising $3,000 for them in one week.

Sophomore Gerson Machan was at his aunt's house playing video games on Oct. 23 when he collapsed. He was rushed to a local hospital, where he slipped into a coma from which he never awoke. Doctors performed surgery but were unable to revive him. Gerson was taken off life support on Oct. 25.

Karen Hicks, a counselor at the school, said he'd had an aneurysm.

"He had such an up personality - a real talker, a funny student," she said last week.

He was also quite bright, taking Advanced Placement world history and honors biology. What's more, Gerson was a musician who played the ukulele.

The family donated his organs, benefiting eight people, including a 17-year-old who received his heart, Hicks said.

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