L
ewis Williams was well into what became 20 months
of dialysis when he talked to Chris Hernandez
about his failing kidneys and need for a transplant.
Lewis may have dodged bullets for nearly 30 years as a
police officer in Oakland, California, but he couldn't dodge
the reality of having two failing kidneys. At 64 and waiting
in line behind thousands of others in need of the organ,
the inevitable was ringing his
doorbell. He faced a likely
wait of seven to eight years
on the transfer list.
"I didn't want to get sicker
and sicker and just check out. I
didn't want that." No family
members lived close by, so
they couldn't help. He talked
to people at his church, but no one stepped up to offer to
donate one of their kidneys.
However, thanks to Chris, the retired policeman looks
forward to more tomorrows. Last spring, Chris, 43, donat-
ed a kidney to Lewis. Since the surgery, both donor and
recipient have been doing emotional and physical cart-
wheels.
Lewis has been a member of The Salvation Army's
Kroc Community Center in Suisun City (www.gokroc.org)
for a little over a year, using the facility to keep in shape
and as a focus for fellowship. That fellowship involved
5
The War Cry | DECEMBER 2014
D E C E M B E R
Frontlines
Lewis Williams (right) says
of Chris Hernandez, "Not a
day goes by that I don't think
about what he did."
Chris, a staff member who has been working at the Kroc
Center since it opened three�and�a�half years ago. He
works part time as a "facilities lead" to open the center in
the morning. He also conducts a circuit class at night.
"Lewis is a personable guy," says Chris. "When he told
me what he goes through each night for dialysis, I
couldn't stop thinking about it. All through the Christmas
holidays it was on my mind.
When I told my family about
it, my mom said `Well that's
the Holy Spirit talking to you.'"
Chris, who people describe
as easy going, took his
mom's words in stride and
decided to help Lewis out.
"Not a day goes by that I
don't think about what he did," Lewis said. "This isn't
about me. It's about him."
Chris was cited by the American Red Cross Bay Area,
California Chapter as one of its Heroes of 2014 for his
"Act of Kindness and Philanthropy."
I kept thinking about [donating a kidney] through the
Christmas holidays," Chris said. "Right after the New
Year, I told Lewis I wanted to help out."
From an article in the Vallejo Times Herald. Used by permission.
Photo by Mike Jory, Vallejo Times-Herald
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