Twenty years ago, Tony Moyet watched the twin towers come down from his New York Waterway Commuter Ferry.

The 64-year-old NY Waterway Ferry Captain from Bloomfield, New Jersey, shuttled more than half a million people to safety that day. He would spend the next year and half bringing over much needed equipment, food and supplies to the firefighters, police officers, and first responders working at the World Trade Center site. He did the work because he wanted to help.

Then in 2018, Tony was diagnosed with COPD- Emphysema.

Once diagnosed his condition rapidly deteriorated. Tony developed end-stage COPD- Emphysema, an advanced pulmonary disease   His doctors attributed his condition directly to his work at the site. He was designated a certified first responder and given 3-6 months to live.

Tony needed a lung transplant, but the COVID-19 virus made it too risky to do the transplant. Finally, the morning of July 4, 2021, Tony received what his doctors call a 4th of July Miracle. Dr. Jesus Gomez-Abraham, Associate Director of Lung Transplant, Newark Beth Israel Medical Center, RWJBarnabas Health, performed the life-saving double lung transplant that he had been waiting for.

To highlight these two heroes as well as elevate the awareness of this life-saving program, the R&J healthcare team conducted extensive media outreach leveraging our extensive media relationships across the New Jersey media market to give a voice to Tony’s inspiring story. R&J’s healthcare team secured media interviews for Tony and Dr. Gomez-Abraham with News 12 NJ, NJ 101.5, NJ Spotlight, ROINJ, NJ Advance Media. Through R&J’s proven media relations method, RWJBarnabas Health was positioned as a leader in comprehensive treatment and management of chronic and complex lung disease.

Check out the features below: