Reynaldo, a 51-year-old husband, father, and son, was admitted to HCA Houston Healthcare Pearland after fainting and losing oxygen. Instead of focusing solely on his care and recovery, the hospital determined that he should not continue living and invoked two separate Texas laws to remove his treatment. While Reynaldo’s family initially believed the hospital was there to help and advocate for him, they quickly realized that was not the case.
Reynaldo fainted and lost oxygen for approximately 20 minutes and was taken to the hospital on January 18th, 2026. Shortly after, he was placed on a ventilator and artificial food and water. The medical team suspected brain death and began the testing. Unfortunately, Reynaldo did not pass the reflex portion of a brain death exam.
Then it came time for the second portion of the exam, the apnea test. The apnea test removes the patient’s oxygen for approximately 10-15 minutes to see if they respond by trying to breathe on their own. The apnea test is highly debated as it can cause further brain damage and even death. His family, acting out of love and conscience, declined the apnea test.
Because of this, the hospital could not initially declare him brain dead. The hospital pulled another card and began the horrific 25-Day Rule to remove his ventilator, food, and water. The 25-Day Rule allows a hospital’s ethics committee to decide if life-sustaining treatment is “inappropriate,” giving the family just 25 days to find another facility willing to care for their loved one.
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An ethics meeting was scheduled for February 6, 2026. While our team worked to secure a transfer, things took a negative turn.
On the night of February 4, the hospital conducted other brain death tests without the family’s knowledge or consent. Reynaldo was then declared brain dead.
In Texas, brain death is recognized as legal death. With that declaration, the 25-Day Rule process was canceled. The hospital was set to hasten Reynaldo’s death by removing his treatment the next day.
Texas Right to Life’s patient advocacy team, alongside a Pro-Life attorney, negotiated for the ethics meeting to still take place as an opportunity for the family to ask questions and share their perspective. The hospital maintained that tests showed no brain activity and no cerebral blood flow, and they refused to grant additional time. After further negotiations from our team and attorney, the family was given a few more hours before his treatment was removed on February 6 at 5:00 p.m. and he passed away.
This is not just Reynaldo’s story. It is a moment that calls every believer to respond.
Scripture is clear: God alone is the Author of Life. “The LORD brings death and makes alive” (1 Samuel 2:6). Life does not belong to hospitals, ethics committees, or courts. It belongs to the Lord.
We are also commanded to defend those who cannot defend themselves!
This is a spiritual issue. It is a moral issue. It is a call to action!
What Can You Do?
🙏 Pray fervently.
Pray for healing and peace for Reynaldo’s family. Pray for wisdom for lawmakers to reform these unethical laws. Pray for hospitals to honor the sanctity of Life.
🗣️ Speak boldly.
Contact your legislators. Ask them to reform the brain death law to provide more protection for patients and their families. Ask them to abolish the 25-Day Rule. Urge them to defend vulnerable patients.
As followers of Christ, we believe every life bears the image of God. Every breath is sacred. Every moment matters. The measure of a society is how it treats its most vulnerable members.
“Rescue those who are being taken away to death; hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter.” – Proverbs 24:11
May we be faithful.
If you want to help patients like Reynaldo, consider donating to our Patient Advocacy Fund. Your generosity keeps this crucial ministry on the front lines.
Thank you for praying for Reynaldo’s family and defending Life with us!
The Patient Advocacy Fund is part of the Texas Right to Life Educational Fund (501(c)3). This allows your gift to be tax-deductible.
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