Okaloosa County Deputy Needs A Kidney Transplant

A 20-year-veteran of the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office continues to hit the streets while he waits for a life saving transplant.


Deputy Johnnie Briggs was diagnosed with polycystic kidney disease in 1998. He began dialysis earlier this month and gets the treatments three days a week. But he doesn't let that stop him from working his twelve hour shifts as a member of the traffic enforcement unit.


"I have good days and bad days," said Briggs. "But it does make you very, very tired".


Briggs needs a kidney transplant and is on the waiting list at Tulane University Hospital in New Orleans. But that could take a while. Patients typically spend three to seven years on the waiting list. In Florida alone, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services says more than 3,000 people are awaiting kidney transplants.


Briggs' girlfriend wants to donate one of her kidneys. but she's not a match.




Anyone who is interested in becoming a kidney donor is asked to contact Kim Thompson at kidneyforjohnnie@yahoo.com or 850.218.8818 for more information.
 
Article Courtesy of WKRG News.com

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