Former ‘most wanted’ fugitive donates kidney to save life of policeman who arrested her
Joslin James saw cop Terell Potter needed a new kidney thanks to a Facebook post - and didn't think twice about donating hers
A one-time ‘most wanted’ fugitive has donated a kidney to save the life of the police officer who arrested her. Joslin James, from Phil Campbell in Alabama, handed over the organ to retired cop Terell Potter after crediting his arrest of her a decade ago for giving her the wake-up call to turn her life around.
Joslin, who fell into crime after getting hooked on heroin and ultimately ended up on Alabama’s most wanted list, learnt of Terell’s plight after scrolling through Facebook and seeing an appeal made by a mutual friend.
The cop had only recently retired when his kidney began to fail last December, and he faced serious medical complications while enduring the eight year waiting list doctors warned he face for a replacement organ.
Joslin said: ‘The Holy Spirit told me, you’ve got that man’s kidney. I knew right then that I had his kidney. Who would have thought it? You’re searching nationwide for a kidney, you find one two miles away
‘It’s just not a coincidence. It’s just God. there is no other way. In my mind, I was just doing what God told me to do.’ Joslin, who transformed her life after getting out of prison, contacted Terell, who was touched by her offer. They traveled to their local hospital, where staff confirmed Joslin’s kidney was a perfect match for Terell.
Surgeons performed the kidney transplant in July, with Terell now on his way back to health. He has since taken Joslin under his wing and now treats the woman who saved his life as part of his extended family.
Terell told WPBF: ‘It’s very humbling to have somebody give you a part of their body to extend your life.
‘I feel like she’s one of my girls. I have two daughters, and I feel like she’s one of them.’
Joslin is also delighted with her newfound friends, saying: ‘I love (Terell), I love his wife, I love his daughter, and it’s so unexplainable. Like, you can’t…’
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