Jocelynn James Gives Police Her Kidney

Jocelynn James had quite a few run-ins with police officer Terrell Potter.  She had become addicted to opioids after she was given painkillers during her cancer treatment.  Her addiction led to crime because she had to find a way to support her habit.  Jocelynn said she was stealing, breaking into houses, whatever she could do to get her next high.  Her habit became progressively worse.  

Officer Terrell Potter arrested Jocelynn James multiple times.  She had become an IV user and she was shooting up 16 times a day.  The crime got worse.  So much so that she was watching TV and saw that she was on “Alabama’s Most Wanted.”  She decided that she was done with that life and turned herself in.  It was too much.  She stayed in jail for six months and then she went through nine months of rehab.  And she is one of the success stories.  She got off drugs and now she helps women who are addicts.

Jocelynn started her own ministry in Alabama to help women like herself.  She stayed sober.  One time she was looking through Facebook and she saw a plea from Officer Potter’s daughter, April.  She knew April because they had gone to school together in their small town. She saw that Officer Terrell desperately needed a kidney.  And she decided to help. Jocelynn said the Holy Spirit spoke to her and said ‘you have that man’s kidney.’

Jocelynn was tested for compatibility at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. She turned out to be a perfect match. Officer Terrell Potter said, “That’s one of the most unlikely candidates for someone to give you a kidney: somebody you put in jail. And if you asked me for a list of a hundred people who would give me a kidney, her name would not be on that list. Because we had no contact or anything. I just would’ve never picked her name out. But I’m so thankful that God put her in my life again.”

He remembers taking Jocelynn to jail several times. “I enjoyed my job,” he said. “It’s something I enjoy doing, helping people. I’ve always said if you treat people right, it’ll come back to you. And apparently, I must have done something treating her right, because look what she’s done for me.” Doctors told Officer Potter the waiting period for a kidney could be up to eight years. He did not have time as his kidneys were operating at five percent capacity.

Potter and James came to Vanderbilt in July 2020 for their transplant, where they were under the care of their surgeon team, David Shaffer, MD, professor of Surgery, and Rachel Forbes, MD, MBA, associate professor of Surgery and chief of the Division of Kidney and Pancreas Transplantation in the Department of Surgery.

“What an inspirational donor pair,” Dr. Forbes said, “a beautiful story of the recovery of Ms. James and the gift of recovery she was able to give Mr. Potter through living kidney donation.”  There were a lot of tears among the nurses.  They were amazed by this story.  Jocelynn saved a man who may not have made it and they have become lifelong friends.  Officer Terrell felt that everyone deserves a chance and he didn’t judge Jocelynn.  He got a great gift in return.