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Sister’s act a lifesaver for CPD sibling
n BY DAN CAMPANA
As the baby sister, Chicago Police Of- ficer Joanna Lukasik Millan knows she might have caught a few breaks growing up compared to her sister and fellow Offi- cer Margaret Coleman.
But Millan doesn’t mince words when she talks about how lucky she is to have Coleman on her side. The already strong relationship shared by the sisters, who are four years apart, only solidified after Cole- man donated a kidney to Millan in May.
“She gave me my life back,” Millan, a 15-year-department veteran, said during an August press conference. “She literal- ly saved me from several years of dialysis [and] waiting on the [organ transplant] list for who knows how long.”
While in her early 20s, Millan was di- agnosed with polycystic kidney disease, a genetic disorder that her father also has. She had stable kidney function for sever- al years, but in the last five or so, things started to deteriorate, Millan explained.
Millan’s nephrologist told her that a kidney transplant was her best option for survival, and she joined thousands of others left to wait on the transplant list. In stepped Coleman.
“For me, it was a no-brainer to save my baby sister if I could,” Coleman shared.
“We are always there to help each other; our whole family is like that.”
Coleman, who has spent 23 years with CPD, underwent extensive screenings to be confirmed as a suitable donor for her sister. COVID-19 restrictions postponed the transplant surgery planned for March, but eventually it took place on May 29. Coleman went home the next day, and both women have experienced smooth recoveries.
“Just seeing she’s feeling better already is just an incredible experience,” Coleman said before downplaying any hero talk. “It doesn’t really seem like a sacrifice...it was what I was supposed to do. It’s just my baby sister; I would have done anything for her.”
Millan didn’t let her big sister’s modes- ty go unchecked, calling Coleman “brave” for volunteering herself as a potential do- nor.
“She’s just such a giving person. I never asked,” Millan said. “She plays such a big part in my life.”
Dr. Joseph Leventhal from Northwest- ern praised the sisters as a shining exam- ple of the benefits of living organ dona- tion, which provides a valuable alternative to the often long wait for those on the list awaiting an organ from a deceased donor. Having a donor in her own family turned out to be lifechanging for Millan.
“The story of these remarkable sisters illustrates the power of living donation,” Leventhal said, citing statistics showing that patients in need of an organ trans- plant exponentially outnumber the actual availability of organ donations.
Millan and Coleman reported a tremen- dous outpouring of support from their blue family, something they described as “incredible and sweet,” with colleagues sending food and well wishes their way after the transplant surgery. The whole ex- perience proved even a little more special because of the sisters’ additional bond as fellow CPD officers.
“We are the big blue family, so I felt doubly lucky. She could save my life on the street, but now she’s saving it at home, as well,” Millan said.
10th District members ride for peace in their neighborhoods
n BY KAREN STAHL
As the sun shone down over North Lawndale on the evening of Aug. 15, 400 cyclists from across Chicago — includ- ing FOP Lodge 7 members from the 10th District — geared up for a free nine-mile, two-hour bike ride as part of the 2020 Street Love Ride.
The event, organized by the nonprofit Boxing Out Negativity, sought to highlight peace and unity throughout the 10th Dis- trict and between community members. The evening kicked off with a community expo and cookout for North Lawndale res- idents and ride participants at St. Agatha Catholic Church on Douglas Boulevard.
“It was very, very peaceful — the neigh- borhood really came out,” 10th District Officer Dave Vazquez said. “We had a DJ set up, we did three rounds around the boulevard and then came back around, and people were excited to do the evening bike ride as well. Overall, it was a joyful ex- perience.”
Through casual discussions at the event kickoff, 10th District officers got to band together with their residents to help box out negativity and foster unity. Having
conversations about team building, rath- er than engaging in malicious damage to Chicago neighborhoods, took the spot- light for FOP members in attendance.
“We break barriers by enabling com- munity members to see that we’re riding with them, and just to see the human as- pect of the job,” Vazquez said. “Through discussion, we’re letting them experience a little bit of our personal views, as well as opening up a dialogue between the neigh- borhood and officers. So we’re personaliz- ing and creating the relationship as far as viewpoints are concerned.”
In light of recent civil unrest, the law en- forcement presence at the inaugural event helped establish necessary trust with community members. Officers connected with youth and adults involved with Box- ing Out Negativity to prioritize safety and continue protecting the public good.
“What we’re doing is not only building the relationships, we’re building a bet- ter tomorrow,” Vazquez said. “We try to find commonality with everyone. Where there’s two or more gathered, there’s strength. And we want that strength with- in our neighborhoods, as well.”
54 CHICAGO LODGE 7 ■ SEPTEMBER 2020