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2 First Responders Separated by Nearly 3,000 Miles Forever United by Kidney Donation: "We're Connected for Life"

March 30, 2026 / 10:31 AM EDT / CBS News

2 First Responders Separated by Nearly 3,000 Miles Forever United by Kidney Donation: "We're Connected for Life"

TL;DR

  • Sgt. Christopher Romero, a NYC Police officer, experienced kidney failure and went on dialysis.
  • Lucas Gorelick, a college student and EMT in Nevada, researched organ donation and looked for first responder connections.
  • Gorelick found Romero through the organization Kidneys for Communities and decided to get tested.
  • Romero and Gorelick were a match, and Gorelick donated a kidney to Romero in December.
  • The two men met for the first time recently and feel forever connected.
  • Romero described Gorelick as an angel who gave him his life back.