After visits to many different doctors, Chief Biesty was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a rare and sometimes fatal blood cancer. He chose Memorial Sloan Kettering for treatment, which included chemotherapy, autologous bone marrow stem cell transplant, additional treatments, and an allogeneic bone marrow transplant from a donor.
“It was tough getting through those treatments,” Chief Biesty remembers. “It was hard to picture that life would get better. I don’t know how I could have gotten through it without my wife, children, my entire family and my fire department family. All of my siblings lined up to provide stem cells — my brother William was ultimately chosen as the donor. Members from many fire houses also came forward to donate platelets.”
Chief Biesty credits the FDNY WTC Health Program, especially his cancer case managers Dr. Ellen Koffler and Nurse Laura Wilson, for their step-by-step guidance through treatment and recovery. He notes that all required services were provided for free, and because his cancer was eligible for WTC Health Program certification, his treatments and related costs were paid for by the program.
“Stay strong and know it can get better.”
In addition, Chief Biesty found solace in receiving transportation to and from every treatment appointment. The Fire Family Transport Program, working hand in hand with the FDNY WTC Health Program, supplied vans driven by FDNY firefighters who volunteered from across the city. This support helped him minimize cancer-associated stressors and focus on healing.
