Officer Pays to Send a Father to Denver for his Young Child’s Heart Surgery
By Officer Tasia Martinez
APD Southeast Officer Luis Hernandez made a miracle happen for a mother and father trying to travel to Denver, Colorado to take their daughter for a vital heart surgery.
Officer Hernandez met the family when he responded to a call from a concerned passerby who saw a man, woman and 2-year-old girl asking for money in 35 degree weather on Thursday. When Officer Hernandez located the family he learned that they were trying to gather enough money to pay for the child’s father to travel to Denver for the little girl’s heart surgery. The mother and daughter already secured flights for the surgery, but the father was unable to go due to lack of funds.
Emergency medical personnel responded and checked the child due to exposure to the cold temperatures. Emergency medical personnel verified the child was ok and confirmed the child had an apparent medical history involving previous heart surgeries.
Officer Hernandez returned the family to their apartment and ensured that the family had all the basic necessities at home. He then drove the father to the bus depot where Officer Hernandez purchased a bus ticket to Denver for the father.
In an interview with the father, he spoke highly of Officer Hernandez, commending him for his kindness and expressing his gratitude saying, “Officer Hernandez went above and beyond the criteria in his job description and above and beyond as a human being.”
The family will meet in Denver on January 2nd and will be together as the 2-year-old child undergoes open heart surgery.
