Raising Awareness about a Cultural Epidemic
Manny Martinez, American Liver Foundation (ALF) patient advocate, and liver transplant recipient is a second generation Mexican American here to share his story and raise awareness about liver disease in the Hispanic community.
Before recently retiring, Manny spent 45 years in the wine industry working with some of the best wine producers in California, Oregon, and Washington state. Manny said, “I spent 21 years in winemaking production at Robert Mondavi and was in charge of production at the Oakville Winery in Napa Valley, CA. I left Robert Mondavi to pursue my own venture importing French Oak wine barrels used in the aging of wine and I couldn’t have been any happier or more fulfilled.”
In 2020, at the beginning of the Covid-19 outbreak, Manny began to experience severe gastrointestinal issues, which led to extreme fatigue and rapid weight loss. His primary care physician referred him to a GI specialist who ran several tests and diagnosed Manny with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), now known as metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). Manny said, “My liver also showed signs of cirrhosis, or scarring, so I knew that I would eventually need a lifesaving liver transplant.”
Fast Facts About NAFLD
- In the U.S., the prevalence of NAFLD is higher in Hispanic populations.
- NAFLD is not caused by heavy alcohol use. Most common risk factors include obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease and high cholesterol.
- Research estimates NAFLD is present in up to 75% of overweight people and in more than 90% of people with severe obesity.
- 80-100 million Americans have NAFLD, the majority are unaware.
Manny made the recommended lifestyle changes and was able to manage his symptoms until summer 2022. Manny said, “I developed ascites, became more fatigued and began experiencing episodes of hepatic encephalopathy (HE). In February 2023, while traveling with my family, I experienced an episode so severe that my doctor sent me for a transplant evaluation immediately. I was evaluated and accepted as a liver transplant recipient and received my new liver and second chance at life on August 4, 2023.”
Prior to diagnosis, Manny had never heard of NAFLD. Manny said, “after I was diagnosed, I became very aware and learned everything I could about NAFLD, including how it affects the Hispanic population more than any other ethnic group in the U.S. By the time I had received my diagnosis, it was too late for me. I want others to know this is an epidemic in our culture and that getting screened can help them get the help and treatment they need before it’s too late and they too need a lifesaving liver transplant.”
Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated September 15th through October 15th and we encourage everyone to take our free Think Liver Think Life® liver health quiz available in English and Spanish to see if they are at risk for NAFLD. Thank you, Manny, for sharing your journey and helping raise awareness of liver disease. Learn about our national public health campaign, Think Liver Think Life, and how you can get screened for NAFLD today.