Hector Villarreal

“Everyone’s [transplant recipients] journey is different, but we all have the same end-goal,” says Hector Villarreal, liver transplant recipient.

It was a long and rocky road to liver transplantation for Hector Villarreal, but well worth it. Not only did he cheat death several times, but he lived to see his daughter get married and meet his grandson. This year, he has also organized a Veteran’s Day reunion for those who served with him in the Air Force in Germany.

Hector moved from Houston to San Antonio in 2008. Overwhelmed by different areas of his life, he began consuming an excess amount of alcohol. A few years later, he underwent a procedure that gave him access to hydrocodone. He continued drinking alcohol while on this medication, and before he knew it, he was addicted. Hector’s health concerns began to worsen when he was diagnosed with cirrhosis, a chronic disease of the liver.

While on a trip in December 2016, he experienced encephalopathy, a reaction of the brain to his condition. Friends found him lost in the city and unable to manage the cold weather. Hector was then transported to the emergency room and spent eight days in the ICU, where he experienced hallucinations and near death.

Hector needed to be alcohol-free in order to become eligible for a liver transplant. In January 2017, Hector began to feel extremely sick again, but this time he also suffered from pneumonia. At this point, his liver was worn out. The family began preparing for his passing. Though he began working with a hepatologist, Hector went into septic shock in April. He did not think he would make it, but he did. In June, he was back in the hospital needing transfusion and palliative care was suggested.

On June 21, 2017, he was transferred to Methodist Hospital | Specialty and Transplant in very poor condition. Fortunately, Hector received notice that he was set for transplant surgery on July 29.

Throughout his transplant journey, Hector experienced a lot of anxiety, stress and depression; luckily, he had the support of the liver transplant team and his wife, Darlene. “I was very well taken care of by all the staff at Methodist Hospital | Specialty and Transplant,” he said. “They are very professional in what they do.”

“The first thing I do every morning is thank God and ask him to help me fight the pressure to drink alcohol,” Hector said. “I’m following all directions from my physician to recover properly, going to therapy, and keeping up with my medications.”

Post-surgery, Hector decided it was time for him to give back. In October 2018, he became part of the liver transplant support group at the hospital. He also volunteers at the Texas Organ Sharing Alliance, talking to groups about his experience and signing up people for organ donation.