NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) – Christmas has passed but a police officer in Tennessee received a gift Tuesday that will change his life forever.
La Vergne Police Sgt. Burrel “Chip” Davis, 40, is receiving a new kidney from his co-worker Officer Eric Crowder, 32.
The surgery took place at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville Tuesday morning. Just before 3 p.m. the La Verge Fire Department said on Facebook, “Both of the City of La Vergne Police Officers, Chip and Eric are out of surgery and in recovery and things look great!”
At 4:15 p.m., the La Vergne Police Department said, “They are both out of surgery and in recovery. Everything is fine so far, so hopefully they can bounce back and Sgt. Davis can carry on.”
News 2 was there before the transplant and captured an intimate moment shared by both families.
They said a prayer in the hospital chapel before the surgery.
“He just kept telling me, ‘You don’t have to do this if you don’t want to.’ I was like, ‘Well, there’s no backing out now,’” said Officer Crowder.
When he found out his friend’s kidneys were failing, Officer Crowder got tested and he was a perfect match.
“I’m glad I was blessed to be a blessing to him,” Officer Crowder told News 2.
The men aren’t just co-workers, they’re good friends and so are their two daughters.
The young girls were a big part of the reason Officer Crowder says he didn’t hesitate to donate his kidney. He told News 2 he didn’t want the children to have to grow up without a parent.
“Words can’t express how thankful I am to him for stepping up,” said Sgt. Davis.
Family members shared a few final hugs in the hospital room before the surgery. Sgt. Davis says he’s most looking forward to living a healthy life after the transplant.
Click here to donate to a fund to help finance the transplant.
