Update: Johnson, Brother Doing Well After Kidney Donation

More than a month after Severna Park Middle School custodian Dovell Johnson donated a kidney to save his brother’s life, both men are doing well.

“I’m fine and it went wonderful,” Johnson said. “My brother is doing fine too. They kidney worked for him kind of fast. The doctors doing the follow-up say it is functioning perfectly.”

Johnson, 23, donated a kidney to his brother, Rhondell Jones, on Nov. 13, and Johnson’s co-workers at Severna Park Middle School rallied around him and offered an abundance of support.

When Johnson didn’t have enough sick days for his recovery time, members of the staff donated their sick days to Johnson so he would have enough time for his recovery. They also brought him meals while he recovered.

“I can’t thank them enough,” Johnson said. “They brought me all kinds of food. I had everything—the taco salad was the best but they brought me so much.”

Johnson will return to work on Thursday and said he can’t wait.

“I miss it so much,” he said. “On my gosh I miss the whole staff, the teachers, the kids, the lunch ladies—I miss everyone. It’s like I am not doing my daily routine.”

Jones is recovering well form the surgery. Johnson said the brothers talk everyday and Jones will be cleared for work soon.

“It was just a wonderful process. I feel great that I was able to save my brother’s life,” Johnson said. “I can’t thank every individual person, but I want to thank everybody so much. I want to thank everybody in my neighborhood, at my work, my friends and my family. They helped so much.”

See Also:

• SPMS Custodian: I’m My Brother’s Keeper

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