By PoliceOne Staff
OLD MONROE, Mo. ā Thanks to the help of social media, a Missouri officer has a new kidney.
Old Monroe Police Officer Ryan Armistead was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease called IgA nephropathy, also known as kidney disease, about two years ago, the Labor Tribune reports. Like many other autoimmune diseases, thereās no cure and medication only slows the process and manages the symptoms. He had been undergoing hours of dialysis each week.
Armisteadās wife, Jessica, created a Facebook page in March and drove around with a magnet on her vehicle asking for donors since July. In August, someone spotted her magnet and shared it on social media, prompting a local news station to cover Armisteadās story.
Abbie Dunkle found Armisteadās call for a kidney on Facebook and reached out to the family.
āAbbie messaged us on Facebook after she was tested to be a donor,ā Jessica said. āIām still in shock. It hasnāt hit me yet.ā
Days before Christmas, Armistead learned heād be getting Dunkleās kidney.
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Well I have the biggest news to share. Iām gettin my kidney transplant Jan 22!!! Please everyone give Abbie Wise Dunkle…
Posted by A Kidney for Ryan Schneider-Armistead on Saturday, December 22, 2018
Armistead had the transplant on January 22 and returned home on January 25.
A GoFundMe page was created for Armisteadās medical bills, medicines and to keep the family afloat while heās recovering.
One of Armisteadās colleagues, Thomas Moore, is calling on LEOs from all over the country to show support for Dunkle.
āAll I am asking from our family is a show of support,ā Moore said in an email to PoliceOne. āAn e-mail, all officers signing a letter from their PD/FD, a small token, challenge coin, patch, donation, etc. Anything to show our appreciation. I personally got a chance to convey this sentiment to her today. Can you help me let her know officers all over the country feel the exact same way? Anything to be donated can be sent to our department to my attention.ā
P.O. Thomas Moore Department Phone: 636-661-5112 101 Locust Street Old Monroe, Missouri 63369