Inmate Offers To Be Bone Marrow Donor To Judge Who Helped Put Him Behind Bars

It’s nice to know that in a chaotic world filled with shocking stories of violence and hate, acts of kindness and redemption are happening just as frequently.

Superior Court Judge Carl Fox is battling leukemia and in need of a bone marrow donation. When he recently received a letter from an inmate who he helped put behind bars, Fox was touched to the core by the act of kindness from such an unlikely source.

Charles Alston, 62, wrote to Fox and offered to be his donor in order to save his life, WRAL reported. The two first met when Fox was serving as the district attorney during Alston’s trial for armed robbery.

Unfortunately, because of the risk of infectious disease, inmates are not allowed to be on the donor registry, so Alston was unable to be Fox’s donor. Nevertheless, the judge was touched by his gesture.

“He had every reason to be angry with me, given where he is and the sentence he was given. It means even that much more he did that given the circumstances.”

After the 61-year-old North Carolina judge was diagnosed with leukemia in April, a local coffee shop held a bone marrow donor drive called “Save the Fox” to help set the judge up with a match, according to ABC 11.

Alston’s letter, which came in July, is a welcome surprise for Fox, who is still waiting for a match, amid his battle with the disease.

In the letter, Alston wrote, “You were the District Attorney during the course of my trial, where I received a 25 year sentencing… There is no hatred or animosity in my heart towards you… I know you are in need of a matching donor for bone marrow. I may or may not be a match, but would have been willing to make the sacrifice if needed.”

Alston is serving a 25-year sentence for armed robbery at Franklin Correctional Center in Bunn, North Carolina. From his cell, he has sent his prayers for a healthy recovery to the judge who prosecuted his case and successfully put him behind bars.

#SaveTheFox: Superior Court judge still looking for bone marrow match http://t.co/ONyb7Fyqvc via @abc11_wtvd pic.twitter.com/e1cbnrxYi2

— Stephanie Lopez (@LopezABC11) September 3, 2015

The inmate told Fox in his letter that he believes Fox may have saved his life by putting him in jail, so he wanted to pay him back by offering to help with the potentially lifesaving procedure.

“I had a lot of hate for Mr. Fox because he sentenced me to so much time, but I come to church a lot, I found God. So, I thought maybe if I could do something for someone else, I’d do it.”

Fox is still waiting for a bone marrow donor match, but Alston’s gesture may be the means for the judge to find his match.

[Image via Twitter/BarbaraGibbsABC11]