COMPTROLLER MYCHAJLIW HELPS HAMBURG POLICE OFFICER FIND KIDNEY DONOR

Joe Bloom devoted his life protecting and serving others. Now the soon to be retired Hamburg Police Officer desperately needs a kidney transplant to survive

(Hamburg) – The year was 2017.  8:00 AM.  Now soon to be retired Hamburg Police Officer Joe Bloom was on patrol when the call came in.  A suicidal individual believed to be under the influence of drugs was about to jump off the second floor of the landing of a building.  Bloom was able to physically grab the troubled person to save his life.  Both crashed to the ground.  They survived. 

Unfortunately, multiple injuries to Officer Bloom’s shattered left arm led to what will soon be an early medical retirement from the Town of Hamburg Police Department.  It wasn’t the first time he was injured in the line of duty.  Mr. Bloom already had multiple surgeries on that same left arm due to being hit by a car while on motorcycle patrol.

Numerous medical complications following those many operations led to kidney disease and kidney failure for the married, 50-year-old father of two boys and one girl.  Currently officer Bloom has 12% kidney function.  Without a transplant soon, he will not survive.

His family’s full-time mission is to find a donor and match for Officer Bloom to have a chance to live.  They are so focused on finding a willing donor they often travel to and spend time staying Florida, where it is believed they perform three times more kidney transplants than our region.  They’re searching in the Sunshine State and Hamburg for a potential donor.  Many family members have already been tested.  None were a match.

“I’m a devoted husband. Father to three great kids. It will be a blessing to be around to love and care for my family for many more years.  While times are tough right now my family is staying positive. We are all praying for a kidney donor and match to come forward.  Potential donors will bear no financial burden at all. All medical expenses will be paid. For now, we need to case a wide net, get the word out, for anyone willing to save the life of a member of law enforcement,” said Officer Bloom.

The soon to be retired Hamburg Police Officer has an extensive and respected history of saving lives in the Southtowns.  During the November Storm of 2014 Officer Bloom traveled through terrible, wintry conditions to deliver lifesaving medications to then nine-year-old Angelina Sugg. 

She suffered from cerebral palsy, epilepsy, and diabetes.  Without her medications the young girl would not have survived, and at the time had no refills.  Officer Bloom weathered the storm and was able to deliver the Sugg family their medications in time.

Joe Bloom served as a patrolman, motorcycle officer and field training officer for the Hamburg Police Department for 14 years.  He has an extensive professional background working in law enforcement for multiple municipalities.  In addition to his service with the Hamburg Police Department, Officer Bloom worked for the Village of Hamburg Police Department for 14 years and part-time for the Village of Blasdell Police Department for eleven years.

“Joe spent every minute of his life saving and serving others. Now he needs our help to save his life. I’m encouraging as many people as possible to share his kidney coordinator’s phone number. Officer Bloom’s condition is quite critical. Time is of the essence.  His family also wants potential donors to know all medical related expenses will be paid.  There will be no financial costs involved for the person willing to donate a kidney,” said Erie County Comptroller Stefan I. Mychajliw Jr.

Hamburg Police Officer Joe Bloom’s kidney coordinator is Sarah Willis.  The number for potential donors to call is 727.588.5837.

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