How a firefighter's dying wish led to a life-saving kidney match for another firefighter

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The FDNY is renowned not only for aiding others in times of crisis but also for their unwavering support for their own. That sense of brotherhood gave retired FDNY Lieutenant Kevin Williams a new lease on life, ABC News7 informs.

On Friday at Ladder 112 in Bushwick, gratitude filled the air as Williams shared an emotional moment with the family of a fellow firefighter who helped change his fate.

“I was in Stage 5 kidney failure and thought I didn’t have much time left,” Williams recounted. “This changed everything.”

Williams was in desperate need of a kidney. Around the same time, retired firefighter Thomas Hoey was facing his own mortality. Before his passing, Hoey expressed a wish that his organs go to a firefighter in need.

That wish became possible through Kristina Moon, who founded the Billy Moon Foundation in honor of her late firefighter husband, Billy Moon, who saved five lives through organ donation.

Although Hoey designated Williams as the recipient of his kidney, doctors found it wasn’t a match. But then, something remarkable happened.

“My phone rings—it’s the hospital. They said, ‘Get in here, we have a kidney for you.’ I said, ‘But I was just told it’s not a match.’ They replied, ‘No, we have another kidney. Get in here,’” Williams said.

Just two days later, Williams underwent a successful transplant. Now, he’s pain-free and filled with gratitude, knowing he has more time to live, thanks to the selflessness of his FDNY family. Meanwhile, Hoey’s organs went on to save three other lives.

“Him being able to save someone, even in death, is exactly what he did in life,” said Lauren Hoey, Thomas Hoey’s daughter. “It’s amazing to see him continue to touch so many lives, even though he’s not here.”

Kristina Moon echoed that sentiment, reflecting on her husband’s legacy. “We call Billy our forever hero because he was our hero, and now he’s a hero to others as well.”

For Williams, this year brought an abundance of blessings.  "Had a lot to be thankful for this year. More than usual," he adds.

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