A bone marrow donor has matched retired FDNY Firefighter Brian Kevan after a long search.
Kevan, who responded to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 with Engine 221/Ladder 104, suffers from World Trade Center-related lymphoma, which he has battled for years. He spent four months at the World Trade Center site during the recovery operation.
Hundreds of people took a cheek swab test to see if they could be Firefighter Kevan’s donor, reports Robert Brodsky for Newsday. The donor, however, didn’t come from the drives held by Kevan’s family and friends, but from a 26-year-old man who signed up on the bone marrow registry.
Referring to his donor, Brian Kevan said, “This kid is my hero. He stepped up to the plate selflessly and donated to save my life without knowing me.”
The transplant took place on November 4, 2021. There is still a long road ahead, but Kevan now has hope.
