Life
Old Army Buddy Donates A Kidney To Comrade In Need
Both of army veteran Kai John's kidneys were failing, and he was in dire need of help. When an old army buddy from 15 years ago heard of the news, he volunteered to get tested to see if he was a match. It's crazy - they hadn't seen each other in 15 years!
D.G. Sciortino
06.12.17

Those who serve in the military are trained not to hesitate when it comes to saving the lives of their fellow soldiers.

And that lesson remained with two veterans even 15 years after they served together.

Army veteran and Sprint engineer Kai Johns found out in October that both of his kidneys were failing and that he needed a transplant immediately.

img-2279
Military Times
Source:
Military Times

Robert Harmon, who had served as a paratrooper at Fort Bragg, North Carolina 15 years prior, saw Johns’ post on Facebook and decided he would come to Johns’ aid.

Harmon, who had known Johns for 22 years, messaged Johns’ wife and asked her what he should do to get tested to see if he was a match to give Johns a kidney.

army_buddy_donates_kidney_1
Military Times
Source:
Military Times

“We were paratroopers in the Army together and that brotherhood runs deep,” said Harmon, a telecommunication operations chief at the 3rd Infantry Division Sustainment Brigade at Fort Stewart, Georgia.

Harmon traveled to the MedStar Georgetown Transplant Institute in Washington, DC and found out that he was, in fact, a match for Johns.

He donated his kidney to his comrade on April 27.

screen-shot-2017-05-24-at-12-01-25-am
Military Times
Source:
Military Times

“For someone to step up and just save your life — you can’t come up with a word for it,” Johns told Fox 5 DC.

Harmon’s act is an amazing testament to brotherhood and selflessness. Though Johns has received a kidney, his family is still looking for help with paying for expenses associated with the transplant.

screen-shot-2017-05-24-at-12-00-38-am
Military Times
Source:
Military Times

Those who would like to make a donation can do so by clicking here.

Please SHARE this with your friends and family.

Article Sources:
To learn more read our Editorial Standards.
Advertisement