NC police lieutenant gives 22-year-old son ‘the ultimate gift of life’ through kidney transplant

REIDSVILLE, N.C. (WGHP) — Last summer, 22-year-old Gabriel Patterson, of Reidsville, found out that he was in complete kidney failure, and the wait for a new kidney could have been up to 10 years.

“My biggest mistake was that I didn’t get yearly physicals in college. … If I was more frequently getting physicals this probably could have been caught sooner, so I urge everyone, make sure you get your health on track. Make sure you get those physicals,” Gabriel said.

Last week, however, Gabriel got a kidney transplant and is now recovering. His hero donor was his dad, Bryan Patterson, a lieutenant at the Madison Police Department.

“There is always a part of him inside of me for the rest of my life. There is nothing that can separate us,” Gabriel said.

The two are healing from surgery together which has proven to be a profound experience for the now-inseperable father and son.

“I see the struggles that both of us are going through right now and it makes the sacrifice so much more meaningful,” Gabriel said.

Bryan said, “Just to be able to see his quality of life change instantly has made it worth every little bit of pain.”

Gabriel was just days out from starting his first job after graduating from App State when he went to urgent care to get some stomach issues checked out.

“They drew my blood, and they basically said, ‘Your kidneys are in complete failure. You need to go to the emergency room right now,’” Gabriel said.

Immediately, he was on dialysis. He was told he would have to wait 7 to 10 years for a deceased donor before he could get a new kidney.

“At 22 years old, life had just started. I had just started my dream job, and if I had to wait 7 to 10 years, I could potentially be 30. It was a lot of life I was recognizing that might be gone,” Gabriel said.

Gabriel said he wasn’t expecting anyone to step in as a living donor, but his dad and an aunt both got tested and both discovered they were a match. Doctors determined that his dad would be the best fit, and they started to plan.

“Just making sure I kept my health up to prepare for the surgery and try to give him the best part of me that I can give him to keep him going for the rest of his life,” Bryan said.

The surgery meant Bryan would have to wait six months before he could return to full duty with the police department.

“The biggest blunt force hit is knowing that my team is out there without me and I can’t lead them right now, just keeping them strong that I will be back,” Bryan said.

Gabriel will return remotely to his dream job on Monday.

“I actually work for a congresswoman for the state, and they have actually been very, very good to me through the whole process,” Gabriel said.

This unexpected hurdle put life on hold, but, now, they are getting back on track.

“It makes me humble. It makes me realize I was given the ultimate gift of life, you better not waste it,” Gabriel said.

Bryan said, “Our darker days are hopefully behind us so all we have to do now is heal and live life again back normal for the both of us.”

Both men want to thank the entire community for their support. The two routinely go for checkups, but, so far, everything looks great.

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