Community Welcomes Box Elder County Deputy Home After 2nd Liver Transplant
Mar 28, 2019, 5:24 AM | Updated: 5:26 am
CORINNE, Utah — A sheriff’s deputy returned home Wednesday evening after being released from the hospital following his second liver transplant.
Box Elder County Sheriff’s Deputy Kelton Bronson received a police escort to his house and was greeted by family, neighbors and even complete strangers who stood out along the road and waved to show their support.
“He deserves to be with his family and his family deserves to have him home with all the troubles he’s had,” said Courtney Yeates, who had never met Bronson. “It’s time to come home.”
In 1990, Bronson became the first boy in the country to receive a live-donor liver transplant when his mother gave him part of her liver.
Relatives said his health started deteriorating last year.
“Yeah, his liver was just dying,” said mother-in-law Jackie Archibald. “So really, since last May, he’s been starting to decline.”
While being treated for liver failure, he recently made the waiting list for a new liver.
“It was probably two days after that they got him a liver,” Archibald said.
Bronson’s father, Corey Bronson, said his son received the liver on March 3.
He expressed gratitude for the support showed by the community as well as the Box Elder County Sheriff’s Department.
“This whole community of Corinne has been just wonderful to him and his family and supporting them in everything that they’ve gone through—watching out for him, watching the kids on quick notice and just backing him 100-percent,” the father said.
The family has been trying to raise money via a GoFundMe page* to help offset the medical expenses.
The deputy was already talking Wednesday evening about getting back to work.
He also was grateful to be have been welcomed home by so many people.
“Oh, I can’t—there’s just no words to describe it,” Bronson said, after exchanging hugs and tears with his father, mother, wife and others. “Yeah, it kind of hits home, so it’s good to be back.”
*KSL TV does not assure that the money deposited to the account will be applied for the benefit of the persons named as beneficiaries. If you are considering a deposit to the account, you should consult your own advisers and otherwise proceed at your own risk.
