When Deputy Javier Tiscareno heard that his friend and fellow officer Jorge Castro desperately needed a liver transplant, he offered to help in an extraordinary way.
Tiscareno got tested and discovered he was a perfect match for Castro. The officer’s family was not.
Like the waitress who donated one of her kidneys to a customer and the teacher who did it for one of her students, Tiscareno decided to become his friend's donor.
"The words that I will never forget is when he told me, 'I'm not going to go to a funeral knowing that I could have helped,' ” the 14-year veteran of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said at a press conference.
The officer was diagnosed with the rare liver disease in January 2014. When treatment failed, a transplant was the only option for survival.
During Thursday’s surgery, Castro’s liver will be completely removed and replaced with a portion of Tiscareno’s. Since the organ regenerates in the body, Tiscareno’s liver is expected to regrow to its full size while Castro’s will become a normal size.
As with all surgeries, there is a risk of complication with a liver transplant. Yet, Tiscareno is taking the chance without hesitation, saying, "I consider the members of this department, as well as the law enforcement community, my extended family, and I am happy to help out a brother in need.”
Watch the emotional press conference below and please SHARE if you believe in the power of friendship!
