By Laura French
GREEN TOWNSHIP, Ohio — An Ohio firefighter-paramedic who is in need of a kidney transplant says he has received an outpouring of support from his department and community and has inspired several of his colleagues to become living donors.
Green Township Firefighter-Paramedic Mike Weissmann has been undergoing dialysis treatments three times a week as he waits to find out whether he is a match with several prospective donors, according to WLWT.
“Before I was eligible for a kidney, I kind of came to terms with things,” Weissmann said. “It’s part of what we do is deal with life and death.”
He said multiple firefighters and other people he knows have started the process to become living organ donors after hearing his story.
“It’s pretty humbling to say the least,” said Weissmann. “It restores your faith in humanity. There’s a lot of good people out there.”
Weissmann has worked at Green Township Fire & EMS for about 20 years, and is a U.S. Navy veteran, according to the Green Township Facebook page.
The firefighter-medic said he hopes to return back to work after a successful transplant.
“That’s probably been the hardest part of this whole thing is not being able to work,” Weissmann told WLWT. “If I would have known it was going to be the last time driving a fire truck, I probably would have taken the long way back.”