Madera County volunteer firefighter in need of kidney transplant

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Whether he is assisting on calls with Madera County Fire or serving as a shoulder to cry on, volunteer firefighter Mike Adames puts service above as part of his daily routine. Adames epitomizes going above and beyond the call of duty.

"He'll give you the shirt off his back in the middle of a snowstorm--middle of the night you need someone to talk to he'll show up at your front door when you need him," said Daniel Valenzuela.

"I was just born to give and help out," said Adames.

Not expecting anything in return, he was moved beyond words to hear that the community is coming together to pay back his service.

"It's nice to be loved," said Adames.

After getting diagnosed with diabetes in 2007, Mike's kidneys have been deteriorating. He suffered kidney failure recently and now he needs a transplant.

"There's still too many lives to save and I'm just not ready to stop and give that up yet," said Adames.

In addition to volunteer firefighting, Adames has been a long time employee at Hedrick's Chevrolet in Clovis.

"He's one of the guys that thinks of everyone else before he thinks of himself and when you have someone like that I think the passion comes out in everyone," said Shawn Swaim.

Coworkers and fellow volunteer firefighters say they are not surprised to hear that a GoFundMe account is set up to help cover some of the costs piling up while Adames waits for a kidney.

"You don't necessarily have to give but it costs you nothing to re-share this link and to say a prayer for mike," said Swaim.