A man who's a firefighter and EMT came to his mother's rescue -- with a liver donation.

Three years ago, Mercedes Alvarado, of Brentwood, received a devastating diagnosis of stage 4 cirrhosis. Doctors said she needed a liver transplant. She was immediately put on a waiting list where she would stay -- waiting, worrying and in constant discomfort until last November.

Her son Marlon decided he was going to get tested to see if he was a match. In February, the 27-year-old found out he was.

He surprised his mother with the news that he has giving her part of his liver, bringing balloons and having a camera rolling. Marlon says it was the best news he could give her. And Mercedes says it meant everything to her.

They went into surgery on May 15. Marlon's lasted over seven hours; Mercedes' was 10.

Now, Mercedes says she's still recovering but is doing OK.