Wish Upon a Wedding

Manny and Adriana

Manny and Adriana met through a mutual friend in 2006 and at the first time she saw Manny, Adriana felt butterflies in her stomach. She felt an instant connection with Manny and told her mother the same night that she’d met her future husband. They didn’t start dating until three years later, but they are a beautiful couple with a strong relationship built on love and loyalty. Manny is a good-looking man of faith with what Adriana calls ‘an amazing smile’ who used to enjoy break dancing and playing sports and Adriana, strikingly tall and beautiful with jet black hair, says she still gets butterflies every time she sees Manny. No matter how sick he gets, Adriana still thinks he’s the most handsome man on earth.

Manny suffered as a young child from a stomach condition that required surgery and multiple units of blood. Unfortunately the blood was tainted and caused Manny to contract Hepatitis C.  Manny was diagnosed with end stage liver disease. He’s struggled through several years of testing and treatment, but the disease is very aggressive. Manny’s last option is a liver transplant, which he is now finally on the list for, but there are many complications to this last option.

Manny and Adriana were just told by his doctors that he has a large blood clot that is causing his white blood cells to drop. If the clot gets bigger, it will cause pressure in Manny’s back and could rupture the veins in his body. The doctors mentioned the possibility of a very high risk procedure to try to dissolve the clot, but his platelets are very low and they don’t feel comfortable moving forward with the procedure at this time. All Manny and Adriana can do now is hope and pray they make it to the transplant.

Life has been extremely difficult since Manny was diagnosed with liver disease. He worked as a warehouse manager until he was no longer able to and Adriana lost her job because they would have to spend days at a time and sometimes weeks in the hospital. But Adriana has never faltered in her devotion to Manny and his health and she is now Manny’s full-time caregiver while also taking care of her 13-year-old daughter, Skylar. Manny has two daughters from a previous marriage and Adriana says he’s a devoted father and an incredibly strong-willed person. Manny is a fighter who was told he wouldn’t live to see 30 and his 30′s came and went while he smiled through the pain and he’s still fighting with Adriana by his side.

Adriana and Manny already have a strong foundation of love that will never be broken. Adriana has vowed to always be there for Manny to comfort him no matter what happens and to cherish every moment they have together. They envision a future without pain and stress, a successful transplant for Manny and a healthy life together.

Adriana and Manny will be wed in Pasadena Ca on February 27, 2012 .  Wish Granted by the LA/OC Chapter of Wish Upon a Wedding.