Patrolman Goes Beyond the Badge to Help Save Future Father-in-Law’s Life
By Jamison Hixenbaugh
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ERIE, Pennsylvania (WSEE) — For the past eight years, Erie Police Department Patrolman Daniel Post has been dedicated to serving the community.
Since being sworn in as an officer in 2018, and spending the last six years as a member of the Police Athletic League helping mentor local youth, Dan will tell you….his compassion for others goes far beyond his badge.
“If you’re able to do something to help somebody, I say take it,” said Post. “Things are put on this earth for a reason.”
Last year, while camping with his fiancée’s family, his soon to be father-in-law Allen Rose became ill.
“When I got back, I didn’t feel right,” said Rose. “I went to the doctor and he said you need to go to the emergency room immediately.”
That’s when they received the devastating news.
“I went down, started testing,” said Rose. “That’s when I was diagnosed with cirrhosis of the liver.”
After being diagnosed with end-stage liver disease, Allen was placed on a national liver transplant waiting list.
“It was a live donor waiting list,” said Rose. “I had several people that volunteered to be tested.”
One of the people who tested was his future son-in-law Post, who ended up being a 100 percent match.
“I told my fiancée Jessica, I know what it is like to lose a parent,” said Post. “I lost my mother four years ago and if I’m able to give that to somebody else to allow them to have a parent, I’m going to do that.”
“I wish I could say the first feeling was relief, but the very first feeling I was nervous, because then it wasn’t just my dad,” said Jessica Rose. “It was my dad and fiancé that were going to go through this huge surgery.”
Unlike other organs, the liver can regenerate.
Without hesitation, Patrolman Post decided to donate a portion of his liver to his future father-in-law.
“There was never a moment that I didn’t want to go through with it,” said Post. “It just needed to be done.”
“I tried to talk him out of it,” said Allen. “I did, because I was more worried about him than me, to be honest with you.”
Both Dan and Allen underwent seven hours of transplant surgery at UPMC Montefiore in Pittsburgh.
After two months of recovery, both men have returned to their normal lives.
“It’s quite a dedication to have somebody do that for you,” said Allen. “I wouldn’t be here without him.”
“Knowing my dad wouldn’t be here without him, that’s the biggest thing,” said Jessica. “I think it speaks volumes to who he is and who I get to marry.”
By sharing the same organ, both men now share an eternal bond.
“Definitely a special bond,” said Post. “We were always close before. It’s an amazing feeling knowing that I can help him continue to do the things he wants to do and that’s live and be around friends and family.”
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