FDNY firefighter Billy Moon’s heart lives on in a 63-year-old man on the verge of death
NEW YORK (WABC) – New York firefighter Billy Moon died in the line of duty in Brooklyn last year, but on Thursday his family heard his heartbeat again.
Kristina Moon and Richard Grehl had an emotional, tearful reunion on Thursday evening, even though they had never met.
Eleven months ago, Kristina’s husband, 47-year-old FDNY firefighter Billy Moon, died in a training accident in Brownsville, Brooklyn.
In keeping with his career of saving lives, he had signed up to be an organ donor in the event of his untimely death.
Grehl, 63, had a total of three heart attacks. The last attack about a year ago almost killed him.
Grehl, who is 1.95 meters tall, not only needed a new heart, but also the heart of someone just as tall. Billy Moon was 1.80 meters tall.
Thanks to Live on New York, an organ donation advocacy and planning group, Kristina Moon was able to hear her husband’s heart for the first time since his death.
Her son Colin also listened. Billy’s mother tried to listen but couldn’t hear at first. And then she did it! Her son’s heart is still beating. It was overwhelming.
Billy Moon was a private citizen, but he would have liked that.
After Grehl’s third heart attack, doctors told him he might never leave the hospital alive. Ten days later he was released with a firefighter’s heart.
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