Sister A Match For Long Branch Police Officer Who Needs Kidney

LONG BRANCH, NJ — A police officer with the city of Long Branch is in need of a kidney, and it turns out his sister is a match after all.

But as Patrolman George "Tom" Olski prepares for surgery, he and his family still have an incredibly tough road ahead of them. First, there is a chance the transplant surgery won't be successful. Secondly, he and his wife are facing mounting medical bills as Olski has had to undergo dialysis three times a week, in addition to still working as a police officer.

This week, Olski was presented with a $5,000 check from the 200 Club of Monmouth County, an organization that helps law enforcement, first responders and their families in need.

Olski was presented with the check Tuesday at the Long Branch municipal complex. He was given the check by Robert Honecker, president of The 200 Club of Monmouth County, and vice president Ben Lucarelli.

“Our Board voted unanimously to assist Officer Olski and his family during their time of need," said Honecker. "We are grateful to him for his 19 years of dedicated service and hope this helps."

Olski is a father of three who has worked for the Long Branch Police Department since 2002.

It was in December of 2020 — in the middle of the pandemic — that he was told he had advanced kidney disease and needed to find a kidney donor, ASAP.

Since getting the stunning news, Olski has not only been working to provide for his family but also undergoing dialysis three times a week.

It hasn't been easy.

Initially, nobody in his family was a match. But additional testing was done.

"It turns out my sister is a match after all, so I am preparing for a transplant," said Olski this week. "It's been a tough road with dialysis three times per week while trying to stay afloat financially."

In the event the donation from his sister cannot be done for whatever reason, Olski is still asking for anyone interested in being tested to determine eligibility for kidney donation to email helpingtom336@gmail.com.

Patch wrote about Patrolman Olski last month: Money Collected For Long Branch Police Officer Who Needs Kidney The Long Branch PBA has also started a GoFundMe for him.

According to Olski, the donation of $5,000 from the Monmouth County 200 Club will "allow me to pay my mounting medical bills and take care of my family now and after my surgery."

The 200 Club is dedicated to providing financial assistance to the families of public safety and rescue personnel who are fatally or seriously injured in the line of duty. This includes, but is not limited to, police officers, firefighters, first aid, and EMT technicians of Monmouth County, New Jersey.

“When someone in our first responder community needs our help, The 200 Club of Monmouth County is there to assist. We hope the financial assistance provided alleviates some of the stress and hardships during this time,” said Lucarelli.

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