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California CO donates kidney to fellow officer

Nearly 20 officers volunteered to donate their kidney to Corrections Officer Gaston Benjamin, who suffers from a genetic disorder

By Drew Johnson
Corrections1 Editor

LANCASTER, Calif. -- A California corrections officer who received a kidney donation from a fellow officer was released from the hospital last weekend, according to a MercuryNews.com report.

Corrections Officer Gaston Benjamin, a single father of four, discovered he had a genetic condition that would cause his kidneys to fail last February, according to the report.

The MercuryNews article said a California Department of Corrections community resource manager sent an email to about 40,000 corrections officers asking for a donation.

Nearly 20 officers volunteered, according to the article, and Rehabilitation Officer Luis Hernandez was a perfect match.

Hernandez, who works at the state prison in Calipatria, has donated hours as a sports team coach and as a volunteer for poor children, according to the MercuryNews article.