ANDERSON, Ind. — A police officer from Indiana Tuesday fulfilled a promise he made to a man he only met once.

John Branson, an officer with the Anderson Police Department, underwent a procedure at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida, to remove one of his kidneys for a transplant for Edgar Roberts, a veteran and pastor from Valdosta, Georgia.

“It feels really good,” Branson told the Anderson, Indiana Herald Bulletin on the eve of his surgery. “It feels right.”

Branson was driving to Florida in April 2016 when he stopped at a Cracker Barrel in Valdosta. That’s where he met Roberts. They decided to eat their meals together, and it came up that Roberts had been on kidney dialysis for five years.

Their friendship grew with phone calls a couple of times a month. When Roberts said he wasn’t doing very well in January, Branson offered to donate his kidney if he was found to be a match. Branson went to Valdosta in March to visit Roberts and went to a service at the Thomas Chapel Ministry, where Roberts is a pastor.

Branson said he was a little nervous, but he had been looking forward to doing the procedure for Roberts for quite some time.

He even traveled to Valdosta late last week to spend time with Roberts and his family.

What he didn’t expect was just how many of Roberts’ family members he would meet. Branson said about 50 family members from all over the country came to town to celebrate.

Branson said he enjoyed meeting all of the family at a huge picnic in beautiful Georgia weather. They also spent time at Thomas Chapel Ministry in Valdosta.

The two men also returned to the Cracker Barrel where their friendship began. The restaurant picked up the tab for a table of about 30 people.

In part because of a successful online fundraiser, Branson and Roberts’ story has garnered some media attention. CBS spent time with him and ran a story on its morning show Tuesday.

Roberts said in March that he is thankful that Branson has given him the chance to extend his life.

“I can do some of the things I want to do. I have two little grandchildren,” Roberts said. “I thank God that he gave John a heart to do that for a total stranger.”

Filchak writes for the Anderson, Indiana Herald Bulletin.