PERRY, Utah, Dec. 10, 2019 (Gephardt Daily) — The Perry City Police Department is hoping the public will consider helping one of its officers who “has the dedication to come to work and make a difference,” even though he is undergoing kidney dialysis several times a week.
Perry Chief of Police Scott Hancey posted a news release Tuesday night on Facebook, expressing his hope that members of the community and beyond will consider becoming living kidney donors to help Officer Jason Harris, who has been diagnosed with IgA nephropathy.
IgA nephropathy is an autoimmune disease that has caused Officer Harris’ kidneys to fail.
Harris noticed in August that his blood pressure was dangerously elevated, the news release says. He went to a hospital in Logan and was then transported by ambulance to a hospital in Ogden.
That’s when it was discovered that his kidneys were failing. The nephropathy diagnosis was made after Harris spent some time in the hospital.
“As soon as his doctors would allow, Officer Harris returned to work and has never once complained about his situation,” Chief Hancey said in the news release. “Despite going through dialysis several times per week, Officer Harris has the dedication to come to work and make a difference. His loyalty to patrolling Perry City and serving our community is an inspiration to me, our police department, and to everybody who has the pleasure of knowing him.”
Chief Hancey is asking the public to help, if possible.
“We NEED to find a very selfless person who is willing to donate a Kidney to Officer Harris. If you are able, please consider giving the gift of life to one of our very dedicated public servants. Officer Harris gives so much of himself, I think we should all do the same for him,” Hancey said.
Anyone who would like to find out if they can donate a kidney to Officer Harris is asked to visit https://uofulivingdonor.org/#_
