HEART TRANSPLANT

Blood drive thursday march 16th.

Abc 36's cody adams has the story of a family who knows the need for blood all too well.

1:44 pat 13-22 adrian 36-47 at first glance you wouldn't notice anything different about the hernandez family.

Adrian and patricia have three beautiful girls and home full of smiles and giggles.

But at one point in time none of that was a guarantee.

Patricia: he really hadnt been feeling well so hed been to the doctor but obviously at 28 they don't just say oh you have a bad heart.

Doctor visit after doctor visit finally led to answers.

Adrian had a genetic disease called hypertophic cardiomyopathy which causes the heart muscles to become abnormally thick making it hard to pump blood.

Patricia: heart transplant is the only option.

Adrian: i know if something didn't change i wouldn't be there for them anymore, it was really hard for me to go through that knowing that i might go to sleep and that'd be it.

At the age of 31 adrian recieved a heart transplant.

And with that heart came a simple bag of donated blood to make the heart work and give adrian a new chance at life.

Adrian: it was great somebody was there for me.

I dont know who they are but im thankful for them, they determined i needed it and they were there.

A new heart is obviously a big deal, but it's also that bag of blood that the hernandez family credits for their current life.

Patricia: there's somebody out there every day, multiples every day going through these types of conditions that need that.

Adrian: you can take ten minutes and save a life and that's what youre really doing you're saving a life.

In perryville, cody adams, abc 36 news justin is tracking potential severe weather for tomorrow.

What to expect in his forecast, next .