In a tale of camaraderie stretching beyond the line of duty, retired FDNY Lt. Kevin Williams, a former first responder of 9/11 and 35-year veteran firefighter, found a second lease on life when he received a kidney from an anonymous donor. Williams' journey to this life-saving transplant was a remarkable series of events, stemming from the solidarity and sacrifice innate within the firefighter community. According to ABC7NY, Williams, who had been suffering from stage 5 kidney failure, met with the family of firefighter Thomas Hoey, who had designated Williams as a recipient for his organs upon his passing from a brain hemorrhage. Sadly, they weren't a match.
A twist of fate followed soon after, when Williams got a call two days later about a kidney available from another donor—an organ that suited him. "I’m trying not to cry, but It was quite an amazing chain of events," Williams said in a statement obtained by Newsday. While Hoey’s intentions may not have led to a direct donation, his organ did wind up saving lives – three separate recipients received gifts of life thanks to his decision.
The interconnections of grace among FDNY's own is further highlighted by the establishment of the Billy Moon Foundation. Having lost her firefighter husband, Kristina Moon sought to honor his legacy via the foundation and its mission to raise organ donation awareness. Billy Moon's organs saved five lives, including his heart, which now beats in the chest of a 64-year-old recipient. Moon shared with Newsday, "It’s a miracle that it’s another firefighter, but I don't think it's just about the firefighter... it just comes down to wanting to make sure another person is being saved."
The FDNY's culture of support and selflessness was on full display at Ladder 112 in Bushwick on Friday, where gratitude and celebration were palpable. Hoey's daughter, Lauren, said that in his death, her father continued to make an impact. "Him being able to save somebody even in his death is just exactly what he did during the time he was alive," Lauren Hoey told ABC7NY. And Kevin Williams, now provided with a new chapter in his life, echoed this sentiment during the Thanksgiving season, expressing profound thankfulness for the unexpected gift he received.
