By Police1 Staff
SUFFOLK, Va. — A firefighter’s son was the recipient of a new kidney thanks to a Virginia police officer.
On May 9, 2017, 14-year-old Ian Dennis went to a hospital for blood work and was diagnosed with stage five kidney failure, WHDH reports.
“His kidneys were very small and as his body grew it outgrew the function of the kidney. So, he was slowly getting sicker his whole life,” Ian’s father Chris, a veteran of the Chesapeake Fire Department, told WAVY.
After being ruled out as kidney donors, Ian’s parents took to Facebook to see if anyone would be willing to donate. More than 40 people offered to donate, but none were a match.
Following an eight-month search, they found the perfect match: Suffolk Officer Josie Hall.
Hall said she learned about the situation when a police dispatcher shared the Facebook post. The officer discovered she was a match when she went in for testing on the day after Christmas.
“We swore. We took an oath. We’re here to help people regardless of how we helped you,” Hall said.
Ian received his new organ last month and said he was grateful for the officer donating her kidney. Hall said the two will always share a close bond.
“I feel like their family is a part of us,” Hall said. “Our families are intertwined no matter what.”