(WKYT) – When you talk to Kentucky State Trooper Jude Remilien about learning of the blood donation that helped save his life he will tell you, “its eye opening, you don’t think about these moments when they actually do happen its like a miracle.”
Trooper Remilien was shot in the leg July 13, 2025 during a traffic stop near Blue Grass Airport. Bystanders placed a tourniquet and kept him alert until help arrived, and EMS workers gave him a whole blood transfusion on scene.
Remilien, the son of a missionary from Haiti, has always wanted to serve.
“As a young kid that came from Haiti I’ve always wanted to serve and being in Kentucky has been great. I have had the opportunity to go to college and so the best way I could do was to give back and serve in my community,” Remilien said.
The shooting and its aftermath
A year after the shooting, Remilien said the day is still fresh.
“Its been a journey there has been some bumps and tough roads, but I’ve had really great around people around me, my family and Kentucky State Police,” Remilien said.
Remilien said he considered giving up his four-year career as a trooper after the shooting. He credited a psychologist with helping him return to duty.
“He’s been by my side, he literally saved my life and I know a lot of times you get to see the people that was on scene, but after that moment is over there is the aftermath and having someone like Dr. Charles Biebel is really the reason why I’m back in uniform,” Remilien said.
A blood donation program a month old
When Remilien was shot last July, EMS units arriving to the scene were able to provide him with blood under a partnership between the Kentucky Blood Center and surrounding EMS units. The program had been in place about a month before Remilien was shot.
“We had several EMS groups from neighboring counties come together with the trauma surgeons at UK to talk about implementing this program. Its being done in different parts of the country and it has shown to have really good results for trauma patients on the way to the hospital,” said Mandy Brajuha, Kentucky Blood Center.
Meeting the donor
The Kentucky Blood Center identified the donor who gave the blood Remilien received: Robert Grossman, a longtime blood donor.
“I’m Jewish and one of our obligations as Jews is to save a life wherever possible. In my usual employment I’m not usually in the position to save someone’s life by teaching them organic chemistry, but this was something I could do that has this outsized impact,” Grossman said.
On August 18, 2026 Remilien was able to thank Grossman in person.
“How are you sir? I’m Trooper Jude Remilien thank you so very much. I’m glad I was able to do something. Words can’t explain how much, I’m grateful for that, because of you I’m here today,” Remilien said.
Remilien said he did not know much about blood donation before he was shot but now has a new respect for Grossman’s donation.
“I just want to say thank you because I can continue to be a father, I can continue to be a brother and I can continue to serve the commonwealth and give back,” Remilien said.
Blood center hopes story inspires donors
Mandy Brajuha with the Kentucky Blood Center said she hopes stories like Remilien’s and Grossman’s encourage others to donate blood.
“Like I can’t even put in to words what it means to see a donor meet the person who received their blood and vice versa its just so gratifying for the work that we do,” Brajuha said.
Remilien said he hopes sharing his story will inspire others to donate.
“So for people to know and just see me today and live in that and to know that somebody took the time to donate I’m extremely grateful for that,” Remilien said.
We asked Remilien if he plans on becoming a blood donor himself and the answer was a resounding yes.
Remilien now works out of Kentucky State Police headquarters in the Public Affairs Branch, where he leads the Kentucky Youth Academy as program coordinator and youth mentor.