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2022 Local Honorees for Brenham
Trooper Chad Walker
Multiple Organ Donor
Groesbeck, TX
Chad Michael Walker was born May 21, 1982 in Corsicana, Texas. He grew up in Groesbeck, graduating from Groesbeck High School in 2000 and from Navarro College Police Academy in 2003 as his class Valedictorian.
He loved anything outdoors – hunting, fishing, his cows, and his kids were a pleasure to Chad. He grew up helping his grandfather, Dennis, with cattle and was proud of his own Beefmaster herd. Chad was very involved in community activities in both Limestone and Freestone counties and was on the Limestone County Farm Bureau Board of Directors.
Chad began a career in law enforcement in 2003 at Athens Police Department, Henderson County Sheriff’s Office, the Groesbeck Police Department, and the Limestone County Sheriff’s Office. He joined the Department of Public Safety in 2015 and was stationed in Groesbeck.
Chad was joined as one, to be married for life, with Tobie Taylor Walker in September, 2018. They lived in Groesbeck with their four children Ethan, twin daughters Rylee and Charlee, and newborn daughter, Tulsa June. Chad was a Christian, worshiping at Living Proof Church in Groesbeck.
After Chad’s life of service to his family, friends, and the public, he gave the ultimate gift through the donation of his organs to help keep others alive. The Department of Public Safety said in a statement, “This final sacrifice embodies Trooper Walker’s actions throughout his life and service as a Texas Highway Patrol Trooper.”
Trooper Walker will be honored at each local event along the 2022 Lone Star Route.
Jessica Gehrke
Organ and Marrow Recepient
Jessica Gehrke has received both two types of donations. In June of 2008, she received her first gift if life with a kidney transplant. This past February, she received life-saving bone marrow cells so she could beat acute myelogenous leukemia.
She is doing amazing and keeps on fighting. She is a warrior and has an amazing spirit and attitude to fight on. Today she is in remission and we pray she stays that way.
Dee and Donald Brummett
Searching Patient and Organ Recipient
Dee Brummett’s kidneys began failing many years ago. She has been on dialysis for the three years and a half years, which makes her feel really tired. She has been on the transplant list for a kidney for the past three years hoping to find her match.
Dee’s husband, Donald Brummett, is an organ recipient.
Nine years ago, Donald Brummett’s pancreas began going really haywire. When it got really bad, his other body organs began shutting down, so he had surgery to remove a large portion of his pancreas and his gallbladder. A little later, he had a second surgery to remove more of his diseased pancreas and his spleen. Luckily, Donald was able to find a pancreas donor.
He said his new pancreas started working even before they got him stitched up. He is doing fine now, thanks to the generosity of a donor.
J.J. Saldivar
Marrow Transplant Recpient
Juan Saldivar Jr. ,”JJ”, is a 15-year-old young man who began a journey that would forever change his life at the tender age of 10. JJ was a typical 5th grade boy who loved playing baseball and video games, made good grades and was beloved by his teachers and friends. His life took a very unexpected turn during his Christmas break in 2017.
After discovering strange red spots over several spots on his body and blurry vision, a trip to the ER showed he had critically low blood and platelet levels and an emergency blood transfusion was given. After several more studies and research by doctors and specialists, JJ was officially diagnosed with severe aplastic anemia. This rare disease is characterized as a bone marrow dysfunction where no blood cells are produced and has a high mortality rate if not treated quickly. Little is known as to the cause of this disease but in most cases, a bone marrow transplant is the only option for survival.
JJ and our family are very fortunate and blessed to have been treated with such care and compassion by the many doctors and staff at Texas Children’s Hospital. Among the many friendly people we encountered, one that made a huge impact in our lives is Brian Allison who introduced us to Be the Match.
On January 9th of 2019, JJ received the gift of a second chance at life by an exceptionally generous bone marrow donor! This young man from Germany was a perfect 10 for 10 match. After being homeschooled since the 5th grade, JJ was able to return to school and is about to finish his freshmen year. His blood levels are normal, he’s healthy and growing and it’s all thanks to the generosity of his donor and to the wonderful people who work diligently to recruit donors, to coordinate events and to do all the necessary functions to help those of us in need!
Mollie Hammac
Organ Donor
Molly Hammac was a native Texan with a passion for travel, loud music, exuberant dancing, animals and the culinary arts. Her life’s ambition was to relocate to London to expand her professional culinary career, experience the atmosphere of the culture there and expand her skills in cooking and European cuisine.
She was inspired to become a registered donor through the actions of a friend who was a donor before her. Molly was very vocal about the need and for donation to enhance other’s lives. We have had the privilege of welcoming into our lives one of the recipients who benefitted from Molly’s act of donation and consider ourselves fortunate to have met her.
We are blessed to have a daughter that has helped so many reclaim and enjoy their lives, all due to the miracle of donation. She’s our little blond-haired hero and an inspiration to all.
Larry Alexander
Blood Donor
“I have been the blood drive coordinator for St Mary Catholic Church in Brenham for the past four years. We have quarterly drives and to date have approximately 300+ donations. Previously I was the Coordinator at St Mary catholic church in Plantersville for eight years and had over 500 donations there.
In both places we also provide volunteers who serve pancake breakfast for the blood drive workers and all the donors and parishioners. Personally, I have donated 60+ times over the last 25 years.”
Grahame Barker
Blood Donor
“I started donating occasionally in college. Someone, I don’t remember who, a coordinator perhaps, asked me to donate and I said “…sure why not?, I’m in good shape”. Seemed like a good thing to do. After college, I joined the US Navy and couldn’t give because of service-related restrictions. Since then, I’ve made a point of donating whenever and wherever my circumstances allowed.
As an Environmental, Health and Safety professional, I’ve seen enough injuries and medical situations in my life to know the need for blood is constant. I have been the blood drive coordinator for both of the companies that I have worked for here in Brenham, and before that assisted in many drives at other employers. Anytime I can encourage someone who’s never given before to give it a try and maybe become a regular donor, I call that a win. Early on, I didn’t keep count of how many donations I have made, but since keeping count, I’m at about 90 donations.
Just an hour of my time can make a huge impact on the health, and in some cases, the survival of a fellow human being. Many people in our society struggle with health issues. I’ve been very fortunate to be healthy and strong throughout most of my life. It seems like an obvious choice for me to share that good fortune with others. It’s simply a very good feeling to be able to make that difference.”
Rob Aguilar
Blood Donor
Rob Aguilar joined the San Antonio Fire Department in September of 1972. After making numerous life-threatening calls, he quickly saw the need in the community for donating blood. He gave to the local blood bank and several years later his department started the Guns and Hoses Blood Drives. He also joined the National Marrow Donor Program Registry back in the 1980’s and was once called as a possible marrow donor; however, after further testing was not a match.
After his retirement from the San Antonio Fire Department, he moved to Brenham, Texas to be closer to his children and grandchildren. He joined the Brenham Police Department Citizen on Patrol program in 2009 and found they too had a Guns and Hoses Blood program. That same year Rob joined the Brenham Fire Department as a volunteer and since his affiliation with both organizations, he was appointed Blood Drive Coordinator. He has since done everything possible to ensure that the Guns and Hoses Blood Drives are successful.
