When he was only 17-years-old, Marco Juarez was diagnosed with stage four kidney failure and from that point forward, his weekly routine included going through dialysis three times a week at 5:30 in the morning.

Marco is 24-years-old now and is the father of a three-year-old daughter. Marco is alive because a complete stranger volunteered to donate a kidney. Pretty amazing, right?

Scott Livingston was inspired by hospital experiences he had and so he stepped up to help Marco even though Marco was a complete stranger.

Scott's two young children were both born with cleft palates that doctors were able to fix and because of the work they did, he wanted to give back.

“I had a pretty strong feeling I had to give back and do something,” Livingston said. So he donated kidney to Marco just as Marco was turning 21.

Since then, Marco and Scott have remained friends, taking a “kidney trip” each year where they ride dirt bikes together.

“I always tell him he saved my life,” Marco said. “Words can’t explain how I feel, me and my family, I’m just grateful … a complete stranger. It’s because of him I’m here today.”

More From 98.1 The Hawk