Brian’s Story

In 2019, as Brian neared his 20-year anniversary with the FDNY, assigned to Engine 221 in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, his life took an unexpected turn. 

Diagnosed with 9/11-related Follicular Lymphoma, Brian received support from the World Trade Center Medical Monitoring and Treatment Program and the FDNY, who connected him with Memorial Sloan Kettering (MSK) for treatment. 

Over the next two years, Brian underwent multiple rounds of chemotherapy, an autologous transplant, CAR-T-cell therapy, and a clinical trial. When these treatments didn’t yield positive results, a bone marrow transplant emerged as the last resort. MSK and Be the Match registry collaborated to find a compatible donor. 

Following an extensive search, a willing donor was identified. Brian’s bone marrow transplant took place on November 4, 2021. Despite some side effects and challenges, Brian remains in remission today.