Jerry Biesenbach

42 years later, Jerry Biesenbach found himself at Methodist Hospital Specialty and Transplant again after being there the first time because of a firework accident that occurred on New Year’s Eve. Interestingly enough, Jerry was cared for by the same nurse from his first visit. Only this time around, Jerry was here to receive both a liver and a kidney transplant.

Jerry and his wife, Joni Biesenbach, live in Stone Wall, Texas, a small city right outside of Marble Falls. The couple met in college in 1991 and now have two children together. Jerry operates a family business with his brother and son where they focus on roadwork.

18 year-old Jerry lost his hands due to an explosive dynamite, which caused him to need prosthetics. He was admitted to Methodist Hospital Specialty and Transplant where a nurse by the name Peggie took care of him. “He was covered in feathers! If it weren’t for the heavy-down jacket he was wearing, he would not have survived. The coat took all the impact,” says Peggie. Since then, Jerry learned how to operate his prosthetics and continued to live his life.

Fast forward to the summer of 2019, Jerry was diagnosed with cirrhosis and kidney failure. He was then referred to Methodist Hospital Specialty and Transplant for further evaluation. Some of the symptoms Jerry experienced were lack of energy and swelling in the legs. After many doctor appointments and tests, Jerry was not progressing. His physician, Preston Foster, MD, decided to move forward with a balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration (BRTO) procedure, which is a minimally invasive technique used to treat gastric variceal bleeding. Jerry was also put on dialysis and paracentesis. “We would wake up at 4:00 AM to drive down to San Antonio for dialysis three times a week and for paracentesis once a week,” said his wife, Joni. “We would not look right or left, we were just plowing through.” Jerry’s numbers were never steady; it was like a roller coaster. He was off the transplant list more than he was on the list due to infections.

On Wednesday, May 25, 2022, Jerry and Joni celebrated their wedding anniversary while in the hospital. The staff gifted them a cake and shortly after, Jerry was sent home. The following Tuesday, the couple drove down for Jerry’s dialysis appointment. “It’s not too late for an anniversary liver,” said Joni. While Jerry was in dialysis, Joni received a phone call and they had a match! Joni could not wait to share the news with Jerry. Once she told him, his face lit up and he cried tears of joy. He couldn’t believe it! They both had fought so long and hard for this moment. “We never felt like giving up, but we certainly got discouraged at times,” said Joni.

Surgery day arrived and Jerry felt relieved. “I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else but here. I trusted them,” said Jerry. Throughout this process, Jerry created strong bonds with the entire transplant team.

During Jerry’s transplant journey, both of his children hit major life milestones such as marriage and college graduation. “So many great things happening around us. Life is fragile for all of us. Although I’ve got a long road to recovery, it’s only up from here,” says Jerry.

As Jerry exited the hospital, MHST staff had a send-off for him and his wife.