ALBANY, Ga (WALB) — Albany Police Officer Quas’Jon Flowers protects his Albany community, but his own body is failing him. At age 25, Flowers is fighting for his life with stage five kidney failure.
Flowers has exceeded expectations in leadership within the department. He has earned a spot on the SWAT team and mentored new recruits as a Field Training Officer (FTO). He has wanted this responsibility since he was a teenager, but his health has declined in the midst of it.
“I see constant homicides, family violences, just senseless crime for no reason, countless thefts. That’s what I see constantly. And then to turn around and have something like this happen to me, you know, it’s just like a— I guess you’d say more negative,” Flowers said.
Kidney disease runs in the Flowers family. Quas’Jon’s grandfather, father, uncle and cousin have all battled this health challenge. Doctors monitored Flowers from an early age because of his family history, and in 2018, a kidney biopsy revealed what doctors say is a rare kidney disease.
Flower’s kidney has rapidly declined over the past four years. In 2021, test results showed his organ functioning normally. But as the years went on, the functionality declined. And currently his kidney function is estimated between 5 to 9 percent.
“I’m not going to say it’s good, but considering they’ve been through it, they’ve been able to coach me through it. Tell me what to do, what to look out for, who I need to talk to,” Flowers said.
Flowers hopes for a kidney transplant
Flowers continues to work fully with APD for as long as he can. He completed a surgery Christmas week to install a catheter before he begins at-home dialysis. Despite home care, he plans to shift his role from an active-duty officer to desk duty. All of this happening while he waits for a kidney donation.
Flowers has been approved by the transplant board for a placement on the kidney transplant list, this pending final authorizations. This is another added fight for him.
Kidney donors are in high demand
More than 100,000 people nationwide need an organ transplant— including nearly 3,000 Georgians. 86 percent of these patients need a kidney. That includes 90,000 people waiting for that specific organ. Flowers is eligible for a deceased donor-transplant, but medical professionals prefer living kidney donors for better outcomes, faster recovery and significantly shorter wait times than the average three to five years.
Flowers is not battling this fight alone. He is alongside his wife of one year, Binkey Flowers. The Flowers family works with a transplant team at Piedmont Atlanta, hoping for good news.
LifeLink encourages more organ donors
One nonprofit, LifeLink of Georgia, aims to close the gap between supply and demand for organ donations and encourage others to take part in saving someone’s life. The organization educates communities about organ donation and helps families honor their loved ones’ wishes.
“This is like your last opportunity before you pass away to do something great and to leave a legacy. Your legacy doesn’t just end when you pass away. It continues through others because when other people receive your organs, that is their second chance,” said Kyla Harris, public affairs coordinator with LifeLink of Georgia.
Flowers remain hopeful while continuing to work for APD and receiving nephrology care. He believes one day, and soon to come, he will receive that call.
“I don’t have an option to quit. I know I have to do it, as long as I remain positive about it. I know I have no other choice until I get a kidney. That is my goal. The goal is to get a kidney and to make sure I’m doing everything, until I get there, right,” Flowers said.
Harris encourages Flowers, and others in his situation, to stay hopeful.
“I know that he’s going to get his second chance. Like we see these stories all of the time. And so, I just want to tell him to keep hope alive and to keep his good energy going, you know, like he’s going to get that phone call and it’s going to feel incredible,” Harris said.
If you would like to donate to support Officer Quas’Jon Flowers click here.
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