The April 2026 Blood & Tissue Center Foundation Board meeting was a powerful reminder of our purpose, as new board members Alex Menchaca and Michelle Robles-Menchaca shared the story of their son, David.
April is Donate Life Month: a time dedicated to raising awareness for organ, eye, and tissue donation, and honoring those who gave. Standing before the room, the Menchacas did not begin with statistics or milestones. They began with their son.
“Music was his passion… and he was a prolific writer,” Alex said.
David was a 24-year-old graduate student whose life was rooted in creativity, curiosity and compassion.
Board members watched as videos of David’s performances filled the Donor Pavilion Auditorium with a jazzy violin solo, emotional vocals, energetic guitar and passion. Michelle held back tears as she watched the videos, remembering those moments frozen in time.
David’s story, like so many honored during Donate Life Month, is one of both heartbreak and extraordinary impact.
At 16, while filling out his driver’s license application, David asked his parents about organ donation.
“I explained to him what it meant… how it could help save lives,” Alex said. “And he said, ‘OK, I’m going to check ‘yes.’”
Years later, in August 2021, that decision would become his final act of generosity.
After a motorcycle accident, David was taken to the BAMC with severe injuries.
As the family worked through the donation process, they shared that David’s uncle was in liver failure. It sounds like an impossible story.
“Two days later, my brother received my son’s liver,” Alex told the board. “Five years later, my brother’s still here because of that gift.”
“He went from this sickly person to all of a sudden vibrant,” he said. “You could see life back in him.”
David’s impact did not end there. His donations went on to help multiple organ and tissue recipients, reflecting the true reach of one decision.
“He’s still with us, one way or another,” Alex said. “He’s out there helping people we may never meet.”
That belief is what brought them to the board.
“We want to just help with this mission in any way that we can,” Alex explained. “We hope to do what we can to help keep this mission going.”
More from the April board meeting
- Regional growth in South Texas: Expansion efforts by South Texas Blood & Tissue in the Rio Grande Valley continue, with increased mobile blood drives and a search underway for a permanent donor center, Martin Landon, CEO of BioBridge Global, said.
- New San Antonio donor center: The Alamo Heights donor center is now open, increasing opportunities for community members to donate blood and support local patients.
- Advancing cell and gene therapies: BioBridge Global has begun biomanufacturing for commercially approved products and continues innovation in cell therapy, including the newly patented Premiva® Platform.
- QualTex is accelerating patient care: QualTex Laboratories is helping bring therapies to patients faster through advanced testing, faster turnaround times and industry-leading compliance in laboratory services, according to Emmanuel Casasola, Vice President of Lab Operations of QualTex.
- Recognition in healthcare innovation: Multiple team members were selected as Health Care Heroes by the San Antonio Business Journal, highlighting leadership in blood banking, research and patient care across the region.
- Urgent need for blood donors: Type O blood donations remain critically needed, reinforcing the importance of regular blood donation to meet hospital demand in South Texas, according to Audra Taylor, Chief Operating Officer, South Texas Blood & Tissue.
- Foundation fundraising momentum: Planning continues for key events like the Red & White Ball and the golf tournament, to continue supporting programs that expand donor services and patient care.
