Valley Stream volunteer firefighter in urgent search for lifesaving kidney donor
Leo Burke, a Valley Stream firefighter, continues reporting for duty with the same commitment he always has, even as he battles kidney failure.
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A longtime volunteer firefighter who has spent years helping his community is now hoping the community can help save his life.
Leo Burke, a Valley Stream firefighter, continues reporting for duty with the same commitment he always has, even as he battles kidney failure. Burke undergoes dialysis three times a week, a routine he’s kept for more than a year.
Burke previously received a kidney from his father 15 years ago, but an immune system condition now requires him to undergo another transplant. He has been on the wait list at North Shore University Hospital for more than a year.
The illness has brought exhaustion, uncertainty and limitations that keep him from doing parts of the job he loves. Still, Burke continues responding to calls alongside his crew, saying serving others keeps him going.
He is also a universal recipient, a rare advantage as he searches for a compatible donor.
Burke hopes a match will allow him to return to full health and continue the work that means the most to him.
