Avid Horseman Saved by Liver Transplant

Left photo: Jesse and Kevin; Right photo: Jesse and Ladybird

Jesse Flores was living a very good life. In his 40s, he took a leap of faith and left a career in corporate IT and legal work to become a fulltime, professional horseman, a lifelong passion. He jokes that he likely “had a pony in utero,” because his British grandfather (who grew up foxhunting on horseback) had him riding English as a tot in rural Anacortes, Wash., where he was born and raised.

Working as a horseman, Jesse spent his days in barns and pastures raising, training and riding horses, teaching others to ride and buying and selling horses for clients. He loved riding his own horse, Ladybird, and had a happy home and social life with two cats, his longtime partner Kevin Patnik, and their large circle of friends.

A mysterious illness takes hold

When COVID arrived in 2020, the couple managed to dodge the virus until October 2022, when they both became very ill. While Kevin recovered, Jesse continued to struggle. He lost weight, and at one point inexplicably collapsed while missing a step at work. He explained it away, thinking maybe he had long COVID. But Kevin was growing increasingly concerned and noticed other changes in Jesse, like confusion, as well. 

Unbeknownst to Jesse, his problem wasn’t long Covid, but liver disease. He had always been fit and healthy, but in December of 2022, his skin turned yellow and he became so sick he was admitted to the emergency room at Valley Medical Center.

He entered the hospital far sicker than he realized. His heartbeat was rapid and irregular, his liver was failing, he had quarts of fluid collecting in his abdomen. He was diagnosed with hepatic encephalitis, a condition that results from the buildup of toxins in the bloodstream and can impact the brain, which explained his behavioral changes. Jesse was asked if he would like last rites.

“I was shellshocked and still am,” his partner Kevin said. “People don’t often realize what a partner goes through. It’s such a scary unknown. You just deal with the moment and don’t have time for anything else.”

For his part, Jesse didn’t think he was going to die, although his situation was dire. “I wasn’t giving up for him or for me. I had things to do.”

Jesse survived that ordeal after two hospital visits, totaling about three weeks, but he was housebound, and his condition remained touch and go. He began seeing a liver specialist at UW Medical Center.

Life hangs in the balance

One day in February, after receiving the results from Jesse’s latest battery of tests, the doctor called Kevin and said, “Get him to a hospital. Now. Don’t wait.”

If Jesse was to survive, he would need a liver transplant. The doctors said Jesse would remain hospitalized until a liver donor was found. They estimated the wait at six months to a year. Jesse’s sisters came from out of state to stay with him in transplant housing, so Kevin could have a break.

Jesse was lucky. A donor liver became available in March 2023, and he and another patient were prepped for surgery, not knowing who would wake up with the lifesaving transplant.

Jesse got the liver. “I felt very blessed,” he said. “I know that someone was on (ventilated) life support and their family made a decision to give. I want to express my gratitude to that family.”

Jesse’s health improved almost immediately. Once home from the hospital, he worked to regain his weight and strength. Feeling good, he tried to return to his previous life buying and selling horses and training them, but realized it was too much, soon.

For now, he’s enjoying spending time and riding Ladybird. It’s been a year since his transplant, and he just turned 53. He’s given his new liver a name, Lenny.

Life is good once again, and he is deeply grateful for his donor. When he is ready, he will write to his donor’s family to thank them.

“Everything I could say about my donor sounds like a cliché,” Jesse said. “It is a gift and a blessing. It is profound and life-changing and life-giving. I have always appreciated life, but there is a new patina to it. It is such a beautiful thing to have my life back.”