Police medical exam saves officer’s life
Doctors say Jerry Hughes was living on borrowed time.
Police Officer Jerry Hughes, 43, has worked in law enforcement in Vestavia Hills, AL, for more than 20 years. He says patrolling the streets to keep the community safe is his favorite part of the job. In 2021, Vestavia Hills began mandating police officers undergo yearly medical exams to ensure they are healthy and physically fit for their high stress job.
The Vestavia Hills Police Department selected Ascension St. Vincent’s Occupational Health Services because it specializes in conducting exams for first responders. The annual physical covers routine checks such as blood work and screenings for vision, hearing and blood pressure. Specialty tests and diagnostic imaging are also conducted to look for warning signs for chronic conditions such as heart failure, hypertension and diabetes.
Officer Hughes became worried the test results may not find him fit to serve. Little did he know, this medical exam would save his life.
“A couple of days after my exam, I get a phone call from St. Vincent’s. The provider tells me the results of my blood test are very concerning,” said Officer Hughes. “He told me I need to see a urology specialist immediately.”
Urology exam finds Stage 5 kidney disease and further tests detect advanced heart disease
The occupational health team at St. Vincent’s quickly connected Officer Hughes to our experienced urology specialists at St. Vincent’s East. His test results found he not only had advanced kidney disease but his heart was failing, too. Officer Hughes was diagnosed with Stage 5 kidney failure and was put on dialysis for nine hours a day. He was able to do dialysis at home but this meant he could no longer patrol the streets and was moved to light duty. Eventually, he was going to need a new kidney, but first, he had to fix his heart.
In order for Officer Hughes to be eligible for a kidney transplant, he needed to have a coronary artery bypass procedure due to blockages found in the arteries in his heart. This type of heart surgery creates new pathways for blood to flow to the heart muscle. The procedure was successfully performed by John Thurber, MD, a cardiothoracicsurgeon at St. Vincent’s East.
“I remember the doctors telling me this is borrowed time. They said if your heart wouldn’t have gotten you, your kidneys wouldn't have lasted,” Hughes said.
A reason to be thankful
Now that Officer Hughes had recovered from his successful bypass procedure, he became eligible for a kidney transplant. After being on a waiting list for two years, Officer Hughes’s kidney function was declining. Time was of the essence, so his daughter created a social media campaign to spread the word. Just before Thanksgiving Day in November 2023, Officer Hughes’s care team notified him they had found a match. His kidney transplant procedure successfully took place in December 2023. Two days after the transplant procedure, Officer Hughes met his donor who happened to also work in law enforcement, Lt. Mike House with the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office .
“I feel 20 times better today. I don't hurt constantly which I thought was just part of everyday life,” said Officer Hughes. “I am grateful for St. Vincent’s, that phone call truly saved my life and Lt. House gave me my world back so I have time to spend with my family and watch my grandbabies grow up.”
First responders are physically active almost every day due to the demand of their jobs. That’s why it’s important for them to receive regular physical examinations. Our care team at Ascension St. Vincent's Occupational Health is dedicated to their health and safety.
“A big portion of our clients are firemen, paramedics and law enforcement officers. Their job is very stressful and strenuous,” says Wanda McFall, APRN, St. Vincent’s Occupational Health Services. “They have a lot of potential for injury and they are very important to the community. Our goal is to assure they are healthy and stay healthy in order to perform the rigorous duties of their jobs.”
Community health partnership for your workforce
Ascension St. Vincent’s Occupational Health care team is available to visit companies to perform worksite evaluations and safety recommendations before an onsite accident occurs. Our physicians, nurses, physical and occupational therapists, and caregivers are dedicated to helping employees get back to work. If you’re interested in setting up occupational health medical exam for your workplace, please call Kim Starling at 205-807-4977 or email her at kim.starling@ascension.org