Police Officer Saved by Kidney Donation from Fellow Officer

When retired police officer and 9/11 first responder Joseph Cappuccilli became a prime candidate for a kidney transplant last year, he faced an uphill battle.

While kidney transplantation has made great strides in recent decades, the wait for one can still be lengthy. In New York, eligible recipients can wait eight to 10 years before a kidney becomes available, according to Dr. Sandip Kapur, the Director of Kidney and Pancreas Transplant Programs at NewYork-Presbyterian and Weill Cornell Medicine who performed Joseph's surgery.

Meanwhile, a social media post caught Mark Chamberlain's eye. The retired NYPD officer, who was also a 9/11 first responder, saw a post by Cappuccilli's wife, who was searching desperately for a donor. He decided to help.

"Joe’s wife wrote in her short message that she’s praying that another police officer will step forward because we can always count on each other and that's…what touched a nerve with me," Chamberlain said.

The two men proved to be a match, and Dr. Kapur performed the life-altering transplant at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center. Their kidney transplant program is the oldest in New York State and the leading living donor center on the East Coast last year.

Learn more about Cappuccilli and Chamberlain's story by watching the video above.