Hi, my name is Barb Watkins and I’m raising funds for my sister, Michelle Hernandez.

My sister has been suffering with polycystic kidney disease (PKD) for 13 years. This is a disease whose only treatment option is to let the kidneys deteriorate to failure and hope you are able to get a kidney match. In her case it has affected both her kidneys and liver. This morning we got the call that we were granted the ultimate gift of a healthy kidney and liver from a donor. We are immensely grateful for this opportunity of a new and full life Michelle gets to have out of another family’s tragedy. We are both forever grateful and deeply humbled.

Michelle will be recovering for the next few months with her husband, John, as her caretaker. Both Michelle and John are elementary school teachers and will be out of work while they tend to her recovery. They also have two beautiful, smart, and charismatic girls. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers as well as the donor family. This GoFundMe was created as a place to contribute to the Hernandez family if you feel compelled to help them monetarily to ease the cost of groceries, meals, medical bills, and whatnot during this time. Any messages of hope and support would be lovely to share with Michelle, John, and the girls as she recovers. Thank you so much for the outpouring of love we have received!