A New York City Fire Department firefighter who was fatally injured while preparing for an on-the-job training exercise saved the lives of five others through organ donation, including two fellow FDNY firefighters.
Veteran firefighter William “Billy” Moon died after a 20-foot fall at his Brooklyn fire station on December 12 that left him with a serious head injury. Moon was an organ donor and his heart, lungs, liver and kidneys went to five people.
One of those people was retired FDNY Lt. Terrence Jordan, 64, who developed 9/11-related illness after responding to the World Trade Center and needed new lungs, the Long Island News 12 reported. Jordan had stage 1 COPD. terminal and emphysema.
“I was in such bad shape from one point on. And now I look at myself and it’s like I got a new lease on life because of the Moon family,” said Jordan, who could have died without the donation.
VETERAN FDNY FIREFIGHTER SUFFERS FATAL HEAD INJURY AT BROOKLYN STATION: ‘FIREFIGHTING WAS IN HIS BONES’
FDNY firefighter William P. Moon II suffered a fatal head injury on December 12 while preparing for a drill at his Brooklyn fire station.
(FDNY)
Now breathing on his own, Jordan needed supplemental oxygen 24 hours a day before the transplant, according to the Long Island outlet.
Jordan said he feels a special connection to Moon and her family and is “forever grateful” for a second chance at life, calling the donation “a Christmas miracle.”
“Billy’s lungs have literally brought life … to Terrance Jordan. They made him part of Terrance’s story,” FDNY Commissioner Laura Kavanagh said at Moon’s funeral. Kavanagh also announced that another organ recipient was a retired FDNY firefighter.
Jordan and Moon didn’t know each other and never worked together in the fire service, but after asking to see “what kind of guy” Moon was, Jordan said he seemed to be her type.
As a father of seven and grandfather of nine, he said he looks forward to meeting Moon’s family, so he can thank them.
ORGAN DONATIONS FROM MURDERED NYPD OFFICER WILBERT MORA SAVE 5 LIVES: ‘SOMEONE GOT THIS HERO’S HEART’
On Tuesday, Moon’s widow, Kristina, spoke with probationary firefighters from the FDNY Fire Academy about his death and the importance of organ donation.
Kristina Moon, wife of fallen FDNY firefighter William “Billy” Moon, speaks with probationary firefighters about organ donation.
(FDNY)
“Right now, one person every 10 minutes is added to the transplant list. Seventeen people die daily waiting for a transplant. There are currently more than 105,000 people waiting for transplants in the United States, and only three out of every 1,000 people will die one way. that allows them to donate,” he said. “So I’ll say it again, location matters, you matter.”
He explained that even when things didn’t go as expected at the hospital, he knew that his organs would help others, which he truly believed in.
“It’s an infinite life that you can donate to someone else, and someone you donate to can donate to someone else, and the fact that two of them are local and are New York firefighters is an even bigger part of their legacy.” Moon said.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Moon was 47 years old when he died. He left behind his wife and two young daughters. The FDNY said his legacy of heroism lives on and will impact the next generation of firefighters.
“Bill chose to give life after his death,” said his wife. “He is truly our hero forever.”
