Co-worker prepares to donate kidney to Easton police officer
Officer Lenox Trams of the Easton Police Department has been on quite the roller coaster ride for several months. Just weeks after finding out he needed a kidney, Sergeant George Paugh of Easton PD stepped up, but it fell through. That’s when another co-worker, Officer Howard Maxwell stepped up to donate his kindey.
The date for the surgery was set, but in the final stage before surgery, Maxwell was re-tested and disqualified. That’s when Jill Garvey, a management assistant at the department, said she would donate. Garvey is the long time girlfriend of Maxwell, and they both were matches with Trams. When the two were breaking the news to Officer Trams, Garvey got the call to see if she still wanted to go through the testing, and she said yes.
With two late stage disqualifications from two co-workers, there was a sigh of relief when Garvey was approved for the donation. She says it was a relief, not only for herself but for officer Trams as well with all he had already been through.
Dr. David Leeser, who is performing the surgery, stresses the importance of a living donor. He calls it the “Rolls Royce” of donations, adding that an organ from a living person is already working perfectly, while one from an organ donor who passed away may have complications. With a waiting list that spans anywhere from 1 year to 5 years, a living donor can donate within weeks. Dr. Leeser says that this not only gives life to the recipient, but reminds 47ABC that one less person on the list means that another recipient gets bumped up that list, saving multiple lives.
Trams has been on Dialysis for months, and his Dialysis specialist, Dr. Anish Hinduja says the sessions take a toll not only on the body, but the mind as well. Which is why he was relieved to get Officer Trams off dialysis so quickly.
Dr. Leesler and the medical team thank all of the “unsung heroes” that make their jobs possible.
In the end, Trams is set to get his new kidney from Garvey who he now calls his “half sister”.
Trams, Garvey, and other representatives of the Easton Police Department tell 47ABC that they are so grateful for the outpouring of the support from family, friends, and the community. Ahead of the surgery, both say they are not nervous, but excited because of their confidence in the medical teams that have been monitoring them throughout the process, as well as the University of Maryland health system.
*The first part of this story can be found under the “MORE FROM WMDT” tab on this page.
