Mike Foy’s family has always appreciated him. He spent 32 years serving and saving others, as a firefighter and, eventually, a battalion chief with the Newark Fire Department. His service included search and recovery efforts at Ground Zero after the 9/11 attacks.

Mike has had a wonderful family life, marrying his high school sweetheart and having two loving daughters. But life changed dramatically when he got the devastating diagnosis that he had end-stage kidney disease. He became too weak to enjoy life and his shame at having to ask others for help came through in a piece he wrote for the Kidneys for Communities website, hoping to find a living kidney donor.

“As I sit here writing this with my wife and children beside me, I am humbled. I have never asked for anything like this before. Today, I write to you out of urgent need. I am in Stage 5 kidney disease, with less than ten percent kidney function. I am asking for the gift of a kidney donation that could save my life,” Mike wrote.

Mike’s story received widespread attention as soon as Kidneys for Communities kicked off his campaign, and many potential donors immediately stepped forward. Meanwhile, Mike’s daughter had quietly begun her own evaluation process, hoping to become a donor for her dad. She was approved as the first matching donor, and on January 20th of this year, she donated a kidney to him. The transplant was successful, and Mike is doing well.

Their Father’s Day celebration this year will be extra-special, because a daughter was able to give her father the ultimate gift — the gift of life.

The team at Kidneys for Communities was happy to assist in the process and we share the love and joy of this Father’s Day for the Foy Family and for all families who are lucky enough to have a dad to share it with.

This Father’s Day, we ask you to consider being a living donor. Read the stories of dedicated first responders who’ve given selflessly and now can use your help: https://kidneysforcommunities.org/recipients/