Sheriff’s Deputy Receives ‘Best Gift’ — a Kidney — from Fellow Officer Just in Time for Christmas
Colleague said his faith played a big part in his decision to donate his kidney.
A Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Deputy received just the present he wanted a little early this year — a lifesaving kidney from a fellow officer.
The men met when Sergeant Darrin Offringa was Deputy Kevin Ay’s supervisor in July 2010. The two men became good friends and kept in touch over the years. So, when Ay was diagnosed with kidney failure in November 2013, Offringa began checking in on him from time to time. It was during one of those visits that the men learned they shared the same blood type, ABC News reported.
Offringa said his faith drove him to help his friend and fellow officer. “As I’ve dived deeper in my faith, my heartstrings were pulled to help out Kevin in this way and give him this gift,” Offringa said. Offringa’s left kidney was determined to be an ideal match for Ay.
On November 29, Offringa endured a four-hour surgery to remove the kidney.
The two deputies say that the transplant has “strengthened their relationship.”
“Words can’t really express how grateful I am to Darrin for what he did for me,” said Ay in a recent press conference. “So, if our story can help convince anybody to go through and make that donation, it’s the best gift anybody can give.”
Both men are doing very well.
#LASD Sgt. Offringa explains how his ultimate Holiday gift to Dep. Ay came from his strong faith. "I knew it was the right thing to do". pic.twitter.com/NHuTE6ueGo
— LA County Sheriff's (@LASDHQ) December 21, 2016
