Hello! I'm Jerry Hughes-Karrh, a husband, father, and public servant. I'm also a recipient of a living kidney donation! I have been married to my wife, Tiffany for 25 years. We have two grown children, Chad and Danielle. Chad and his wife, Kayla, gave us two beautiful grandkids. Sky is 5 and Ares is 7months. I have worked in law enforcement for the last 20 years, and also worked as an EMT and dispatcher serving in both Blount County and Vestavia. Working long hours and extra jobs to support my family, I put my health on the backburner. As I became diabetic and hypertensive, I was afraid I would loose my job if anyone found out. So I kept doing what I do best, work hard! This went on for years without being a problem. My employer sends their employees to Ascension Occupational Health yearly physical, which is how my low kidney function was brought to my attention. I was in Kidney Failure and unaware. The kidneys had already affected my heart at this point. In May 2022, I had my Peritoneal Catheter placed and was started emergently on dialysis. While in the hospital, they did and Echo of my heart and saw I had two major blockages and a previous heart attack. June 2022 I had double bypass surgery. At this point, everyone knew of my condition. People responded with outpouring of love and support! Several family and friends signed up to donate on my behalf. After a few non-matches and matches that could not donate for different reasons, our daughter stepped up our game to find a donor. We had news stories and facebook posts, emails between police departments, and word of mouth. Low and behold God was already working! A fellow law enforcement brother had begun the process of becoming a living donor, saw our story on the news, and called his coordinator to have me be his recipient. We were a match!! Surgery was December 2023, and a success!! My mission is now to educate others on prevention, maintenance, fundraising, and awareness. I want to help others who are or could be in my position.