EDGEWATER, Fla. — An Edgewater Firefighter EMT is recovering after donating one of his kidneys to a perfect stranger. 

  • Firefighter EMT donates kidney to fellow firefighter’s daughter
  • Woman had been in renal failure for 9 years
  • RELATED: More good news stories

Lt. David Blair helped save the life of woman who had been in renal failure nearly 10 years ago.

“Normally helping other people, that’s just what we do, that’s what we sign up for, and that’s what I love doing,” Blair said.

Lt. Blair is recovering from surgery, which is now changing the life of a woman hundreds of miles away in North Carolina.

Heidi Hughes an active outdoors woman who loved going on adventure until she was diagnosed with renal failure in December 2008.

A decade later, Blair is looking to help Heidi get back to doing the things that she loves.

"... whether it’s a stranger or family, somebody from another country, or whatever, it doesn’t matter -- we are all humans, we should all help each other out,” Blair said.

While Heidi was a stranger to David, he does know her father, a fellow fireman who he often works with at Daytona International Speedway.

“They had an email that was sent out about the situation of Heidi needing a kidney, and there is also a Facebook campaign, so I saw those a couple times, and I was compelled to online and fill out the survey and see if there was something I could do to help,” Blair said.

He not only filled out that survey but worked with Duke University Hospital to do blood work, ultimately finding out that he was the perfect match.

“I was on the road so I had to pull over. I don’t think I can control my emotions, but it was one of the best phone calls I had received in my life really,” Heidi said.

Speaking with us on Skype from her hospital bed, Heidi fought back tears expressing the joy of having “Dave” help her have a second chance at life.

“He granted me so much of a future, and I’m so grateful and happy that we have people like him in this world,” Hughes said.

Heidi has another surgery schedule, depending on that outcome she may get to go home on Monday.

Find out more information on how you can become a donor.