Esteban Hernandez is the husband of Marina Hernandez. They tried to sail from Cuba to the United States in a small boat so that Marina's illness could be diagnosed by Gregory House. We first see Esteban when the U.S. Coast Guard is trying to rescue he and Marina from their disabled boat during a storm. Estaban has a suitcase which he refuses to relinquish, but with it the helicopter's recovery cable can't handle the combined weight. He eventually is forced to drop the suitcase, which sinks into the Atlantic. He is rescued, but explains in Spanish to the crew that the case contained Marina's medical records. When he continues to speak in Spanish, the crew thinks he wants to go home, but he switches to English and explains that he wants to see Dr. House.