Lt. Mike House of the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office chats with Cpl. Jerry Hughes of the Vestavia Hills Police Department. In December House donated a kidney to Hughes.
On Dec. 6, 2023, Jefferson County, Alabama, Sheriff’s Lt. Mike House donated a kidney to Vestavia Hills Police Cpl. Jerry Hughes.
Lt. House said God put it on his heart two years ago that he was to be a kidney donor. He didn’t know when and he didn’t know who, but he was sure it would happen one day, AL.com reports.
Meanwhile, Cpl. Hughes was spending nine hours a day on dialysis after being diagnosed with renal failure, also a couple of years ago. His daughter turned to social media and local news in search of a kidney.
“The man saved my life,’’ Hughes said. “He gave me time with my family, time with my grandbabies.”
One night, House and his wife were watching the local news on television and saw an interview with Hughes and his wife and daughter. The story focused on Hughes’ search for a donor.
House reached out to his transplant coordinator and asked if he could be a donor for Hughes.
Several days later, the coordinator called him back and said he did qualify to donate his kidney to Hughes. She asked him what he wanted to do.
“I said, ‘Let’s go,’’' House said.
House and Hughes have stayed in touch since the surgery. Just last week, both men and their wives went out to dinner, the first time all four had been together since the surgery.
On Monday March 11, 2024, personnel from the Vestavia Hills Police Department and Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office gathered at a city council meeting for the reading of a proclamation honoring Sheriff’s Lt. Mike House, the Vestavia Voice reports.
Following introductions of Hughes’ and House’s families, Vestavia Hills City Manager Jeff Downes read the proclamation.
“Lt. House had long felt the calling to be an organ donor, and we are in awe of his faith in God and his selfless dedication to others,” Downes said. “The City Council and mayor join in commending Lt. House for his valor and personal sacrifice, which resulted in saving the life of a fellow law enforcement officer.”
Ware then presented House with a Lifesaving Award, thanking him for his willingness to help a stranger.
“This department and the Hughes family will be forever grateful,” Ware said. “May God bless you.”
