SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The South Charleston Police Department is hoping to raise money too aid one of their own. Officer Daniel Johnson is a 13 year veteran of the South Charleston Police Department and for the past eight years has been a member of the Metro Drug Unit. Chief Brad Rinehart says the fearless young man is now facing the fight of his life.
“He thought he had a hernia and went in and had some tests run and it’s a rare form of cancer,” said Rinehart.
Doctors diagnosed him with Pseudomyxoma Peritonei (PMP). The diagnoses was later confirmed by a specialist at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center. Johnson will have to travel there next month for treatment. The treatment will consist of cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC).
“He’s a good guy with a family. He’s got a wife and a couple of kids,” said Rinehart. “They’re going to have expenses with raising child care and meeting his deductible. We’re just trying to help out.”
Although Johnson has health insurance to help with the cost, other expenses will to be covered like a place for his wife Lindsay to stay. She’s a school teacher and will have to burn a considerable amount of her leave time to be by her husband’s side. They’ll also have to make arrangements for the care of their children and of course the deductible.
“It set me back when he pulled me aside and told me about it,” said Rinehart. “I didn’t know what to say at first. He’s young and healthy and you just don’t think that happens to people under 40 especially as healthy as he is and the lifestyle he lives, but I guess if affects every walk of life.”
The South Charleston Police department is selling raffle tickets on a couple of guns and will participate in a dodge ball tournament to March 9th involving other police, fire, and emergency service agencies. A GoFundMe Page has also been set up to accept donations.