WANTAGH, NY — A longtime Wantagh firefighter and retired NYPD officer is asking for something he rarely asks for: help finding a living kidney donor. John “JJ” Gillen, 66, learned recently that his kidney function has declined to the point that doctors say he needs a transplant.
Gillen’s family is leading the search and says they are not asking for money. They want people to consider whether they might be able to donate a kidney or at least start the confidential screening process through NYU Langone, where he has been approved as a transplant candidate.
What The Family Needs
The family says the focus is on living kidney donation, not a fundraising drive. Gillen has been added to the national deceased donor waiting list, but his family is hoping a living donor will come forward sooner.
Doctors have not said he has started dialysis, but they have limited him from active firefighting so he does not put extra strain on his kidneys. He now works in an administrative role with the fire department while continuing to deal with appointments, medication and dietary restrictions.
Anyone considering donation should remember that only the transplant team can determine whether a person is a match and able to donate. Readers should verify details directly with NYU Langone before taking any next step.
A Career Of Service
Gillen’s need for help comes after nearly five decades spent serving others. He joined the Wantagh Fire Department in 1978 and later spent 20 years with the NYPD, working patrol, organized crime, the detective bureau and eventually as a sergeant.
He also stayed active in volunteer firefighting during his police career and rose through the Wantagh department’s ranks after returning to the community in 1990. He served as chief of department in 2000, then spent 10 years as fire commissioner before returning to the role he says he enjoys most: firefighter.
His colleagues describe him as steady, calm and willing to pass along what he has learned. One department spokesman said his experience has helped younger firefighters in ways that textbooks cannot.
How To Get Involved
The family says people who want to help can visit NYU Langone’s living donor registration page to learn more about the confidential screening process. That is the only official channel named in the story for anyone exploring living kidney donation for Gillen.
They are not seeking financial donations. Instead, they hope the story reaches people who may be open to seeing whether they can donate, or who can share the request with friends, family members or others who might qualify.
Because transplant decisions depend on medical testing, interested readers should not assume they are eligible without going through the hospital’s review. It is also wise to confirm the latest instructions and requirements directly with the transplant program before making plans.
Why It Matters Now
The family hopes the appeal does more than find a donor for one man. They want it to raise awareness about kidney disease, living donation and paired kidney exchanges, which can help when a willing donor is not directly compatible with the recipient.
For Gillen, a transplant would mean getting back to travel, family time and his life with the fire department. For the wider community, the request is a reminder that a neighbor’s ordinary medical need can become a chance for others to step forward in a very direct way.
Other communities looking to organize a similar effort can follow the same basic approach: share the need clearly, name the hospital’s official donation channel, and avoid guessing about medical eligibility or logistics. For issues involving money or health, the safest move is always to confirm every detail with the organization involved.
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