First they were NYPD cops, then they were friends, and now,Rosa and Renee have a bond that gives them solace, companionship and theability to save lives.
Rosa & Renee's Story
Renee: We met on the job a little over 15 years ago.Once they put us together as partners, we became good friends. Now we traveltogether with our children, we have barbeques and we talk constantly. Ourfriendship never gets in the way of the police work. We are police officers andwe are trained to do certain things and handle ourselves accordingly on theoutside. But as far as the friendship is concerned, the friendship goes waybeyond being police officers.
"Everybody thinks we are sisters."
Renee: I reallycherish friendships. I have many friends who I've known now for 30 years. Idon't take friendships lightly and when Rosa did come in my life she wasspecial, you know, she was someone I could talk to.
Rosa: She forced herself into my life(laughing now). Seriously, good friends can be hard to come by and the odds ofhaving a good friend within NYPD are slim. Of course we fight sometimes. Manytimes I tell Renee, I say: "You know, you are such a Leo, right!" She remindsme of one of my sisters, the one I am closest to in age. The one I argued withand disagreed with while growing up. I'm able to break down with Renee and I'mable to express my true, true feelings to her. She helps me with my fears,whereas, with my husband I hold back, you know. I always try to be strong forhim and everybody else. I don't let him see my true, true feelings. With ReneeI'm able to let loose and really express myself. I feel comfortable with her.
"It was a matter of life and death."
Renee: In April, mycousin suffered a brain aneurysm and she was declared dead. My aunt decidedthat she would donate the organs.
Rosa: My brother and sister both sufferfrom renal failure and have been on waiting lists for kidneys for years. But, Icouldn't dare hope...I couldn't fix myself to even mention them to Renee.
Renee: But, see, wetell each other everything, you know. So I knew, I knew what she wanted to sayand it was like something right happened on that morning. The ball startedrolling. We were able to give [kidneys] to Sammy and Benny, Rosa's brother andsister.
"We don't let nothin' get in our way."
Rosa: I did feel guilty in the sensethat [Renee's] loss was a good thing for my brother and my sister. It wasdifficult getting something from her cousin's death. Here we were offering ourcondolences, but at the same time we are grateful? It made me feel funny. Thiswoman lost a daughter and that's deep, you know, losing a child. When we foundout the kidneys were matches, it was one of the happiest days of our lives! [Mybrother and sister] are doing wonderfully. They're moving around like theynever have and they are able to do the things they couldn't do for so longbecause they were too weak.
"We are connected for life now."
Renee: This[experience] has brought us even closer than we already were. We share a lot ofsecrets, we talk about everything, and now we hold this connection. When we'reat work, it's just about me and her and that's it. We don't really think aboutanybody around us.
"This friendship has taught us so much."
Rosa: Communication is very, veryimportant. Had I not communicated what was going on with my family to Renee,her cousin would have passed and the organs would have been donated, and shewould never even thought about calling me and letting me know what's going inher life.
Renee: Right. It's important to have someone you can be open to.
Rosa: Even if it is an embarrassingthing, Renee tells me everything and I'm not the type of person who is usuallylike that. I'm really not comfortable discussing my personal business or what'sgoing on in my household with my family to anyone. But, for some reason, Reneebrought that out in me. My advice to other women out there is: Don't beashamed, be surprised. Someone out there has probably got a problem a lot worsethan yours. God put us in each other's lives for a reason
Rosa: I'm just so grateful and so happythat I was there at the right time and God put Renee into my life for a reason.I was able to help my brother and my sister at the same time.
"How we keep our friendship strong."
Renee: We're honestwith each other. If there's a problem we talk about it, because we know eachother. If something is bothering her, right off the bat, I know it. I knowsomething is wrong. She can't keep it in, so within an hour, we have got totalk about it. We're very open with each other, so we're able to communicatethat way and understand each other.
