Marcial Verdejo had no contact with his children for nearly 20 years. But now, a fire has reunited the once homeless man with his sons.
Verdejo was working at a homeless shelter in Mesa, Ariz. when he realized the structure was on fire. He immediately sprang to action, grabbed a hose, and worked to put the fire out. His brave response caught the attention of news reporters all over the country -- and the attention of his son, Marcial Jr., who contacted his dad after seeing the story on TV after being out of touch for several years.
Verdejo told NBC 12 news that reconnecting with his son was a dream come true.
"I don't know why, but for some reason I felt that something would bring us together again," he said.
Shortly after reconnecting with Marcial Jr., Verdejo's other son, Jean Pierre, reached out to the father he had spent years searching for.
"It was wonderful to hear him. It felt warm, it felt loving, just as soon as we started talking," he said. "It feels like I'm regaining a basic part of my essence."
Jean Pierre is planning to visit his father in July to introduce him to the grandson he never knew he had.
"We're gonna go fishing and fly a kite," Verdejo said.
To hear more about this family's reunion, watch the video above.
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