“Being able to help others makes me happy.”
David Hutzler, grateful patient and dedicated donor to the Center for Brain Health.
When David Hutzler was diagnosed with ALS in 2023, he turned to two friends in healthcare for guidance. Their advice was unanimous: visit neurologist Carlayne Jackson, MD, FAAN, at UT Health San Antonio.
For years, Hutzler poured everything into building a successful company, often pushing far more than he realized. As he began to lose his voice and experience shortness of breath, he made the decision to sell the company and shift his focus to his own well-being and the people who mattered most to him. “I started to learn to slow down and relax. Even though I had a terminal illness, I was happier than I had ever been before.”
A patient's gratitude
Since his diagnosis, Hutzler lives with intention, setting small, attainable goals that keep him present and purposeful. Whether he aims to still be walking by Christmas, finish the construction of his home or participate in another deer season with his family, his ambition now shapes how he gives back.
That shift in perspective led Hutzler, his wife Kim and his mother, Rita, to channel their energy into helping others. Their $100,000 gift to the UT Health San Antonio Center for Brain Health supports the David Hutzler Swallowing Therapy room and the David Hutzler Respiratory Therapy room, spaces that will directly improve the lives of patients facing neurological conditions across South Texas. " I feel more comfortable with Dr. Jackson than any other doctor I’ve seen in 56 years. She has been unbelievably helpful and supportive. I am so grateful to have her in my life to guide me through this journey."
Where education, compassion and community align
Dr. Jackson, a neurologist who has led UT Health San Antonio's ALS program for more than three decades, believes the Hutzler family’s generosity reflects their humility and drive to make a lasting difference for patients with ALS, muscular dystrophy, Parkinson's disease and other neurological conditions.
I think what’s so touching about the Hutzlers is that they looked for any way they could give back.
Dr. Carlayne Jackson, Chair of the Department of Neurology at UT Health San Antonio
With the Hutzlers’ commitment to making lives better, the Center for Brain Health enables Dr. Jackson and her team to continue their research, education and care. Their work helps prevent serious complications for patients by uniting therapy, research and clinical care. The result is a unique space that Dr. Jackson is proud to call a hub, where patients and their families receive treatment and build community and hope.
For Kim Hutzler, faith, hope and community have grounded their family throughout the journey. She hopes their act of generosity can help create a similar space for other patients and families. “My hope is that when someone walks through the doors of the Center for Brain Health feeling lost or hopeless, they walk out knowing they have an advocate and friend in Dr. Jackson.”
A gift of accessibility and hope
The Swallowing and Respiratory Therapy rooms, named in honor of David Hutzler, will play a critical role in improving patient safety and comfort. These rooms will enable evaluations and treatments to occur in a single visit, sparing families from multiple trips and easing both the barriers and stresses that often come with coordinating care for patients and their caregivers.
The Hutzler family’s generosity ensures that others facing neurological conditions will experience the same compassionate care and sense of community that defined their own journey. Their gift is more than a contribution to a new facility. It is a legacy of hope, empathy and purpose for patients and families across South Texas.
