According to the family, Armando Olivan’s donations benefited more than 70 people through organ and tissue transplants.
TYLER, Texas — An East Texas liver transplant recipient met the family of his donor for the first time Thursday, sharing an emotional reunion and a heart to heart.
Magdaleno “Junior” Jacquez, a lifelong East Texan, embraced the relatives of Armando Olivan, the man whose donated organ saved his life in 2023.
“It’s a gift that I can never repay back,” Jacquez said.
Jacquez was diagnosed with a serious liver condition in 2023 after months of unexplained illness. What began as a routine medical procedure quickly turned into a life-altering moment.
“The first words out of the doctor’s mouth were, ‘I think we need to put you on the transplant list,’” Jacquez said. “I don’t know who cried first, me or [my wife].”
Without a transplant, doctors told him he had only months to live. Olivan, described by his family as humble and generous, died following a horseback riding accident. In the midst of their grief, his family made the decision to donate his organs. A choice they said saved countless lives.
Nallely Olivan, his daughter, said meeting Jacquez brought both joy and overwhelming emotion.
“Hugging them, I just wanted to cry,” Nallely said. “It was a lot of joy, just to see that somebody else is living the moment.”
According to the family, Olivan’s donations benefited more than 70 people through organ and tissue transplants.
The reunion was facilitated by the Southwest Transplant Alliance, which helps connect donor families and recipients when both sides are ready. Kelli James, the organization’s director of marketing and communications, said such meetings highlight the “ripple effect” of organ donation.
“One organ donor can save eight lives through organ donation and heal 75 more through tissue, which is true, but that doesn’t even take into account their families, the fact that they get to go on and be parents and grandparents,” James said.
Both families discovered they had lived near each other, shared community ties and even attended the same schools.
“We realized they were essentially in each other’s backyards,” James said.
Jacquez said the meeting was not about himself, but about honoring the man and family who made his survival possible. Both families are now using their experience to encourage others to consider becoming organ donors and to have conversations about it with loved ones.
“Nobody talks about it,” Jacquez said. “But it’s probably one of the most important decisions you’ll ever make.”
Olivan’s family said they, too, had questions and uncertainty at first. Ultimately, they chose donation believing it reflected his character.
“If that was the last thing he had to give, he would have wanted to help somebody else,” Nallely said.
Advocates say those conversations are especially important in multicultural communities, where the need for transplants is higher but donor registration rates are often lower.
“At the very least, just talking with your family about it, have a conversation,” James said. “Let them know how you feel about organ donation. Make sure that you understand their wishes as well.”