Mercer County Sheriff Doug Timmerman and Samantha Fledderjohann Share Powerful Stories as Living Kidney Donors on Spectrum

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Mercer County Sheriff Doug Timmerman and longtime Special Olympics advocate Samantha Fledderjohann were featured guests on a recent edition of Spectrum, the public affairs program heard on WCSM, where the focus turned to an extraordinary shared experience: both are living kidney donors.

Host Kevin Sandler welcomed the two community leaders to discuss their personal decisions to donate kidneys and the impact those choices have had on their lives and the lives of others.

Fledderjohann explained her journey began in early 2024 when she felt prompted to become a donor despite not knowing a recipient. She described her motivation as gratitude for good health and a belief that kidney donation is one of the rare situations where someone truly can help another person in a life-changing way. Her surgery took place in December 2024.

She later met her kidney recipient, a moment she described as deeply meaningful. Fledderjohann shared that the recipient was deaf and that she was able to communicate with him using American Sign Language, creating an immediate and unique bond. The two have since remained in contact and continue to share milestones, including family gatherings and holidays.

Fledderjohann said her recovery was relatively quick, returning home within days and resuming normal activities soon after. Aside from being more intentional about staying hydrated, she says her daily life has not changed.

Sheriff Timmerman shared that his interest in kidney donation began when he explored donating to his father. When that option was no longer possible, he chose to continue the process as an altruistic donor. He credited conversations with Fledderjohann and other local donors with helping him understand what to expect.

Timmerman donated his kidney in December and described a longer surgery but steady improvement since. He has gradually returned to work and praised the support of his staff and family during his recovery.

Both guests emphasized that kidney donation involves extensive medical screening, including blood type, tissue matching, and antibody testing, to ensure safety for both donor and recipient. They also highlighted paired exchange programs, which allow one donation to trigger a chain that helps multiple patients receive transplants.

The discussion highlighted Mercer County’s strong tradition of community service, with both guests noting that more local residents have donated kidneys than many people realize.

Timmerman and Fledderjohann are scheduled to return to Spectrum later in the week to discuss the upcoming annual basketball game between the Mercer County Sheriff’s Office and Special Olympics athletes, an event participants often describe as one of the most anticipated days of the year.