Our Someones 2 Know this week are Reno locals, who just a few months ago were complete strangers to one another.
Now, after a little honesty and a lot of generosity, the two men will be connected forever.
We meet up with Marc Hernandez and Dennis Miranda at the home Marc shares with his wife. There he show us a piece of equipment he’s grown very familiar with over the past 18 months;
"This is my dialysis machine for peritoneal dialysis.”
After being diagnosed with kidney failure, using this machine - eight hours a day - is what keeps Marc Hernandez alive.
"You know, it's a death sentence,” he explains grimly.
It was 30 years of diabetes that took its toll on Marc's body, something he saw his dad go through, as well;
"Unfortunately, my dad passed away from it at an early age, he died at 56 from kidney failure."
Marc is 46 - and was told he has about one year left before he will lose his battle, unless he gets a transplant.
"Hopefully, you can try to lead a productive life while you're on this waiting list."
Hernandez says he first met Dennis Miranda about one month ago at the Peppermill (Resort Spa Casino). Where, at the time, Dennis was a dealer. Marc says that day, when Dennis greeted him at the blackjack table, his dark sense of humor kicked in;
"I said yes, I'm looking for a kidney - does anyone got one? Anyone got an extra one?’ And right away he's like, ‘Yeah, you can have mine, if you want."
Dennis wasn’t kidding, and he remember s the moment clearly; "You want my kidney. I'll give you my kidney. No impulse, just like (he snaps his fingers) - hey, if I can help you, I'll help you.”
Dennis says giving to others has always been a priority for him;
"If I can save somebody's life, I'll save somebody's life."
Dennis is still in the early stages of testing and qualifying, but even if he's not a good match for Marc, he can still save a life.
Marc explains; "What they'll do is take his kidney, give it to somebody who matches and that person that maybe didn't match another person - will come to me."
In the transplant world - they call it “A Daisy Chain” - a process pioneered and developed at Johns Hopkins, which has saved countless lives.
And now, these two men, strangers just a few months ago, are now on a life-saving journey together.
"I'm glad I'm able to help him out,” shares Dennis “And allow him to live a long life and be able have kids and keep on going"
Marc says, it’s a miracle; "He doesn't want any praise, he doesn't want anything. If he can help somebody, he wants to help somebody - and I think that's amazing."
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Once the transplant is approved, much of the expense will be covered by Marc's health insurance. If you would like to help with some of the additional costs, Marc has set up a Go Fund Me page.
For a link to that - plus links for more information about organ donation, please see below.
Go Fund Me for Marc Hernandez
National Kidney Foundation
Donate Life
https://www.donatelife.net/types-of-donation/kidney-donation/
U.S. Government Information on Organ Donation and Transplantation
