Young Police Officer’s Health Challenges Highlight the Need for Organ Donors

Albany, GA | December 26, 2025 – Just two years into his career with the Albany Police Department (APD), Officer Quas’Jon Flowers, known as “Q,” already advanced to become a Field Training Officer (FTO), responsible for mentoring new recruits. He also earned a coveted spot on APD’s SWAT team, an achievement that typically takes years to reach.

Flowers’ leadership skills were evident even during his police academy training when he was selected as class president, reflecting the respect he earned from both peers and instructors. In his short time with APD, he established himself as a standout officer known for his strong work ethic, professionalism, and commitment to the community. Flowers regularly worked more than 60 hours a week, taking on additional training and responsibilities to build a strong career in law enforcement.

“Being a police officer isn’t just my job, it’s who I am. I worked hard to build my name and reputation, and then something like this changes everything,” said Flowers.

The “this” he is talking about is a serious health challenge. At age 25, he’s battling stage five kidney failure. Kidney disease has affected multiple generations of the Flowers family, including his grandfather, father, uncle, and cousin. His father has undergone two kidney transplants, with the first lasting nearly two decades. Growing up, Flowers was closely monitored due to the family history. At age 17, while attempting to enlist in the military, early warning signs were detected. In 2018, a kidney biopsy revealed signs of IgA nephropathy, though physicians later determined that his condition may be a rarer hereditary form of kidney disease not commonly seen.

Flowers’ strongest supporter is his wife, Binkey. They met in 2021 while participating in a mock wedding event in Cuthbert, portraying a bride and groom. Three years later, they became a real-life bride and groom, getting married in April 2024. Binkey, a graduate of Morgan State University in her hometown of Baltimore, MD, serves as a payroll specialist at Phoebe where she helps Phoebe team members understand their paychecks and benefits. Now, her own family is navigating a difficult healthcare journey.

“My husband is someone who has always been driven, disciplined, and focused on serving others. Watching his body slowly work against him has been heartbreaking. This isn’t just physical, it’s emotional and mental. We’re sharing our story because we truly believe it can save his life,” said Binkey.

In 2021, around the time Binkey and Q first met, his kidney function was nearly normal. Over the next few years, his condition progressed rapidly. By early 2024, his kidney function had dropped to approximately 30%. By the summer of 2025, it had fallen to 16%, and today, his kidney function is estimated between 5% and 9%.

“He could feel his body slowly turning against him. There are days when he’s exhausted, days when he’s in pain, and days when mentally it’s overwhelming, because you don’t know when your life will completely change,” said Binkey.

Despite his declining health, Flowers continued working full duty at APD for as long as possible. His supervisors and command staff supported him every step of the way, encouraging him to prioritize his health. Flowers underwent surgery the week of Christmas, to have a peritoneal dialysis catheter placed and will begin at-home dialysis, a treatment option he carefully researched and selected. While he expects to return to work in a limited capacity after recovery, he will be placed on desk duty, a significant shift for someone accustomed to active patrol and tactical response.

“The department has been incredible. They’ve told me to put my health first, and they’ve made it clear they’ll accommodate me however they can,” said Flowers.

Flowers has been approved by the transplant board for placement on the kidney transplant list, with final authorization pending insurance approval. While he will be eligible for a deceased-donor transplant, doctors have emphasized that living kidney donors offer better outcomes, faster recovery, and significantly shorter wait times.

“With a living donor, everything changes. It can mean less time on dialysis, better long-term health, and the chance for him to get back to doing what he loves, serving his community,” said Binkey.

Every 8 minutes, another person is added to the national transplant waiting list, and 86% of patients waiting need a kidney. Close to 90,000 people in the U.S. are waiting for a kidney donation, and more than 100,000 people nationwide need an organ transplant, including nearly 3,000 Georgians. On average, a living donor kidney can function anywhere between 12 to 20 years, while a deceased donor kidney can improve quality of life for 8 to 12 years.

With living donation, patients may be able to receive a transplant in less time compared to the 3-5 year average wait for a deceased donor kidney. Other benefits include lower risk of rejection of the donor kidney, improved survival rates, improved quality of life, lower treatment costs, and avoiding the restrictions and complications of dialysis.

The Flowers family is working with a transplant team with Piedmont in Atlanta, while continuing nephrology care in Albany. They hope that by sharing their story, community members will take time to learn more about kidney donation and consider being screened as potential donors.  As Q feels support from his family and his colleagues at APD, Binkey is also appreciative of the support of her co-workers and the broader Phoebe community.

“This is what healthcare is about, people supporting people. If our story helps even one person decide to get screened, it could save not just my husband’s life, but someone else’s too,” said Binkey.

Phoebe partners with Donate Life Georgia to raise awareness about organ donations and encourage community members to consider becoming living donors. You can register to be an organ donor at www.donatelifegeorgia.org. You can learn more about  living kidney donation in Georgia at https://piedmontlivingdonor.org/.