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Florida Man Hopes To Donate 3rd Kidney

Police Officer Hopes To Help Man With Renal Kidney Failure

POSTED: 5:04 pm EST February 15, 2008

A police officer in Florida hopes his rare medical condition will allow him to help a man facing a long wait for a new kidney, reported West Palm Beach, Fla., TV station WPBF.

Dean Ovshak, a Fort Pierce police officer, has three kidneys. That makes him and Ricky Williams, who suffers from renal kidney failure, potentially a perfect match.

Up until two and a half years ago, Williams had a pretty normal life. With a wife of 21 years, two children, and a secure good paying job, his world turned upside down after a routine physical diagnosed his kidney problems.

"It was pretty shocking at the one time cause I never thought like that cause I've been pretty healthy and everything and this was a terrible blow to me now," Williams said.

Williams needs a new kidney and is one of 98,000 people on the kidney donor list.

As a police officer, Ovshak is used to helping people in need. When he heard Williams talk about his blood type on WPBF, he reached out.

"I noticed that he was an O-positive blood type, and I'm O-positive and so I thought I'd e-mail you and see if I was a possible candidate for kidney donation," Ovshak said. "I was in the hospital at one time and the doctors had mentioned that I had a third kidney."

Having three kidneys is rare, but not impossible.

"So I thought if I got three I can easily spare one. Even if I had two I would be willing to do it if we were a match," Ovshak said.

The Williams have two children who both attend Florida A&M University. Their son, Brian, majors in computer science and their daughter, Roquitta, is working on a degree in sociology. Their father's wish: "I definitely want to see them graduate and I want to see them have kids here," Williams said.

Ovshak hopes to fulfill William's wish.

"Well, if I'm compatible, hopefully it will help him out and give him a better chance to live a little bit longer and spend more time with his family," Ovshak said.

Ovshak has to get in touch with a worker from the kidney donor list and set up an appointment. Ovshak and the Williams' look forward to the day they meet face to face.

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