Courageous teen dies while waiting for new heart

A teenager who received a heart transplant when he was two and lived life to the fullest while waiting for another donor organ has died.

Austin Hilliard was 16-years-old. The Beaumont West Brook High School student had been in a Houston hospital last week with problems related to his heart, but returned home and was doing well.

He died Friday morning after he was taken by ambulance from his home to Baptist Beaumont Hospital.

KFDM News first met Austin in 1999 at an American Heart Association benefit.

He told us about the heart transplant surgery and helped raise awareness for research into heart disease.

Just last year we did a follow up report on Austin at his home.

His heart had grown weak. He had a pacemaker and he was on a waiting list for another transplant.

That didn't stop him from living life to the fullest. Austin enjoyed music and his family told us he was a brilliant student.

He never let his medical problems stop him from pursuing his dreams of becoming a doctor. He also talked about becoming president.

Funeral arrangements for Austin Hilliard are pending at Broussard's.

An account is set up at Neches Federal Credit Union to help Austin's family with medical bills and other expenses.