Cousin donates kidney to Shreveport police officer

By Brittany Breeding

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    SHREVEPORT, Louisiana (KTBS) — A Shreveport police officer is getting a gift that will change her life. Her cousin is donating a kidney to her.

Between March of 2022 and July, Shreveport police Officer Samantha Gwin started having some health issues.

“I just went to the hospital because I had, like, chest pains and then they admitted me and told me that I was in renal failure,” said Gwin. “But I was kind of scared. I didn’t know. I mean, I thought that I was healthy, honestly. I thought that I was just dehydrated.”

Her renal failure caused her to go on dialysis about a month ago. She now needs a kidney transplant, but instead of waiting potentially years on a donor list, her cousin decided to step up and help.

“She’s been much more like a sister to me than a cousin. So it was something like, she needs it, I have it, it’s going to be done. It’s time,” said Destiny Gwin-Phillips, who is donating a kidney.

Thankfully, Gwin-Phillips was a perfect match.

“I mean, we were both crying on the phone together,” said Gwin.

“It feels really good. It was something that I always wanted to do from the moment we found out that it was a possibility,” said Gwin-Phillips.

The transplant is scheduled for May 28 at Houston Methodist Hospital.

“It’s like another chance at life, literally,” said Gwin. “Since I’ve started dialysis, I’ve kind of been, I guess, pinned down. I have to go to dialysis three times a week. So just the thought of having that freedom back. I’m so thankful”.

Both women will have to be in the hospital for at least a couple weeks after the transplant. They’ve set up GoFundMe accounts to help with the cost.

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