A swab could save an FDNY firefighter with 9/11-related illness

So far, Kevan has undergone a stem cell transplant, Car T-cell therapy, and several rounds of chemotherapy. Now, he's a part of a clinical trial as he waits a donor.

News 12 Staff

Oct 23, 2021, 10:35 PM

Updated 1,154 days ago

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A series of “Be the Match” registry drives are being held for former FDNY firefighter Brian Kevan who is battling a form of non-Hodgkins lymphoma.
Kevan needs a bone marrow transplant from a matching donor. The New York Blood Center partnered with the FDNY to host a series of drives in his honor.
He joined the department in Feb. 2000 and spent time at Ground Zero. He was diagnosed with the disease in 2019.
So far, Kevan has undergone a stem cell transplant, Car T-cell therapy, and several rounds of chemotherapy. Now, he's a part of a clinical trial as he waits a donor.
The New York Blood Center is urging people to register – saying it’s quick, easy and painless. After all, one swab can save a life.
"You know your commitment…to be a match isn't just for me. It's for so many in need,” says Kevan. “To know that you could possibly save a life, I think it's one of the greatest things you could probably do."
Anyone hoping to help can text 'FDNYBrian’ to 61474 and Be the Match will send a kit right to your home. Or, head to one of these upcoming drives:
Monday, Oct. 25, 2021 from 2 pm-8 pm (Blood and Marrow Drive)
West Islip Fire Department, 309 Union Boulevards, West Islip, NY
Tuesday, Oct. 26, 2021, from 11am-7pm (Marrow Drive)
FDNY EMS Academy Drive, Building 325, 325 Pratt Avenue, Fort Totten, NY 11359
Wednesday, October 27, 2021 from 11am-4pm (Marrow Drive)
Brooklyn Commons Park @ Metrotech, Brooklyn, NY 11201