Esteban will always be remembered for his genuineness, grace, and kindness towards everyone he knew. He had so much love and goodness, such a capacity to bring happiness and laughter to others. He was as beautiful on the outside as he was on the inside with his long beautiful curls and piercing brown eyes.
He was highly intelligent, an avid reader and writer who loved Indy films; he was a walking encyclopedia of strange trivia and world events. He was funny with a dry sense of humor and a logical way of thinking that challenged you to look at things differently. He often entertained us with his many voice impersonations. He loved junk food of every kind and his all-time favorites were hot fries, corny dogs, hamburgers, and pizza. Esteban found joy in eating, especially mom’s cooking, and experimenting with all types of foods. He loved to play video games and is often remembered for getting so excited playing that he jumped up and down as he played. He loved all kinds of music and played the guitar and the cello.
Esteban was an exceptionally sensitive soul, feeling his and everyone’s pain so profoundly that it hurt him. It is our prayer that he also felt and understood how deeply he was loved by all who knew him. Esteban was absolutely loved, thoroughly and unconditionally during the good and the really bad times because all we ever wanted was for him to find his peace. We supported his daily fight for sobriety in every earthly way we knew how and somehow this, and our love was not stronger than the drugs calling his name. It is heart wrenching for us to accept that no amount of love that we could have given Esteban could cure his illness and addiction.
Even with all of Esteban’s goodness, love, and generosity, deep inside Esteban suffered in a lonely darkness, privately battling deep pain that only he understood. Esteban courageously succumbed to the silent illness of depression and addiction on May 22, 2020. We believe our amazing Esteban is finally in his eternal peace, a peace that he could not find in this life. We are assured that Esteban is no longer suffering in the dark pain but is now resting in God’s loving arms. The light left by his unforgettable spirit will never ever dim and he will live in our hearts forever.
As we mourn our loss, we celebrate the lives that Esteban saved by donating his heart, kidneys, and liver. Esteban pioneered the technique for donating his heart and was the first donor of the Texas Organ Sharing Alliance (TOSA) to undergo this type of organ donation procedure. Our prayer is that all the recipients of his organs will go on to live long healthy lives amid our tragedy.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to the health-care professionals and coordinators of TOSA specifically Bianca, Edda, Steven, and Jeremy. They turned this incredibly tragic event into a beautiful experience and send off for Esteban. We’d also like to express our profound gratitude to the South Austin Hospital STIUC Department, especially Charge Nurse Gabby; nurses Liz, Amy, Lionel, Jessica and Shayla and respiratory therapist Jorge for their dedication and for caring for Esteban with such respect and dignity. Finally, we would like to thank Dr. DeVry Anderson, CMO for the prayerful guidance that he provided in our time of need.
Esteban is survived by his loving heartbroken parents, Irma and Fred, his devoted sister Micaela, half-brother Nicolas and wife Mary, paternal grandparents Ester and Alfred Rivera, and many beloved aunts, uncles, and cousins. He is also mourned by many friends including Adam, Alex, Amanda, and Francisco. Esteban is proceeded in death by his maternal grandparents Eleanor and Daniel Arguijo, Sr., and his paternal aunt Ruth Hernandez. A private memorial service will be held for Esteban later this year.
We opt to be fully transparent about the death of our son and his life struggles because it is time to end and overcome the stigma, the embarrassment and the denial regarding mental illness and addiction. Mental illness and addiction are not just an individual and family crisis they are a national crisis. We urge you that if there is someone in your life battling mental illness or addiction to reach out to them today. Do not put off what you can say and do today until tomorrow. So many lives are needlessly lost because the subjects of mental illness and addiction are taboo in our society and tainted by misconceptions and stereotypes. We encourage you to get involved, forget the plethora of reasons you have not to reach out. Choose to make a difference as none of us are immune to the clenches of mental illness or drug abuse. Choose action and not inaction. Choose to say the words, make the call, or send the text. Choose to get involved today because tomorrow may not be an option. Choose understanding and not misunderstanding. Choose presence and not absence. Choose discomfort and not comfort. Choose courage and not cowardice. Choose hope and not despair. Choose joy and not sadness. Choose to have a voice and not remain silent. Choose life over death. Choose to save a life.
If you are suffering in silence, there is help. Call the National Suicide Hotline at 800-273-8255 or text 741741. Seek substance abuse recovery through your local mental health providers.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18