9/11 Responder From Bloomfield Celebrates Life-Saving Transplant

BLOOMFIELD, NJ — Tony Moyet of Bloomfield had an extra-special reason to celebrate Independence Day this year: the anniversary of his life-saving double lung transplant.

It was a year ago that Moyet underwent his surgery at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center and Children's Hospital of New Jersey.

His transplant has a heroic origin, according to the nonprofit NJ Sharing Network:

“On September 11, 2001, Moyet was one of the heroic NY Waterway ferry captains who helped evacuate people from Manhattan following the attack on the World Trade Center. He continued to work at Ground Zero for another year and a half, ferrying personnel and supplies to the workers and first responders doing recovery. In 2018, Moyet began finding it difficult to breathe, and he was diagnosed with COPD and emphysema. Doctors attributed his condition to the contaminated air from Ground Zero.”

Now – after his successful transplant – Moyet said he looks forward to enjoying many more special moments with his family and friends.

“My lungs are working great,” said Moyet. “My doctors are amazing people – miracle workers. I am truly humbled and forever grateful to the donor hero who gave me my new lungs.”

With the help of the NJ Sharing Network, Moyet is hoping to spread the word about his transplant in an effort to raise awareness about the “power of organ and tissue donation and transplantation.”

According to United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), there are over 100,000 Americans – nearly 4,000 of whom live in New Jersey – waiting for a life-saving transplant. One organ and tissue donor can save eight lives and enhance the lives of over 75 others.

Last year, 233 people in New Jersey “gave the gift of life” – an all-time annual high, the NJ Sharing Network stated. In addition, 42,112 eye and tissue donations healed and enhanced the quality of life for those in need.

To learn more, get involved or register as an organ and tissue donor, visit NJ Sharing Network’s website at www.NJSharingNetwork.org.

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