Joseph Wittleder
Retired NYPD
Hey America my friend and hero Joe needs a kidney. I know a few
people have stepped up to the plate and things did not work
out,but I am asking anyone,and everyone this true hero in every
sense of the word needs our help. I am positive someone will be
Joe's hero and donate the gift of life to this great
father,husband,friend and hero.
John Feal
Angelo
Grande
Retired NYPD
MEET A HERO
Angelo
Grande served under NYPD for 20 years out of the 61st precinct. He
was a PBA delegate for eight years. Angelo has been on a dialysis
since 5/15/06 . He suffers from from cystic kidneys, which does
not allow your kidneys to function normally. His blood type is "0"
so he can only receive help from a person with the same blood type "0"
or someone with a "A2" blood type. Angelo needs our help. If
anyone out there can save his life, then please be a hero and help a
hero .
Since the last time we posted our story about Angelo,
two kind and brave potential donors have stepped forward to offer their
kidney to Angelo. Unfortunately, neither cases resulted in a
successful match for the surgery. .
If anyone is willing to help Angelo, please contact us. Thank you
very much.
Dear John,
I was honored to speak with you on the phone. I know you wanted to
know a little something about my history and condition, so here it is.
On September 11th 2001, I was assigned to the NYPD Emergency Service
Unit Squad #2 in Harlem, N.Y. I was scheduled to do a 1515x2350 (4x12)
tour of duty when I saw the news flash of the WTC incident. I thought
like everyone else that it was a small plane accident, so I called in to
see if I could assist. I was told to report immediately and drove in
with a co-worker. On our way in, we learned that this was an act of
terrorism and prepared ourselves for the worst. After gathering the
necessary men and equipment, we headed downtown. We arrived just after
the second tower fell and immediately started assisting fellow ESU
members as well as others whom were injured. We also began a search for
missing members. I'll never forget the sounds of the fireman's
ScottPack signal indicating that the wearer was not moving. I've never
heard so many beeping in my career and hope to never hear one again. We
literally had to run off the mass of debris on numerous occasions do to
a collapse (such as building #7) or threat of. It was the one time in
my career I could recall being truly scared. After driving numerous
autos (some still on fire), and collecting men and equipment, we started
our search and rescue efforts. This continued for 12-14 hours a day for
several weeks. After that, we realized that we were not going to
recover any survivors and prepared ourselves for the daunting task of
recovering our friends and anyone else we could. As you know, sometimes
we found bodies or parts and sometimes we did not. Although I would do
it again, It was the worst assignment of my life. I am however proud of
the fact that we were able to recover the remains of our three members
so that their families could at least have closure. It was an honor for
me for they are the true heros. I think of them everyday and miss them
dearly. As the months went on, we continued the search for remains
until the job ended in June of 2002. My one regret is that we did not
find all of our friends. It haunts me to this day.
In February of 2002, I was taking a five year medical for the Naval
Reserve when I was informed by a corpsman that I had an unusually high
level of protein in my urine. I was referred to a nephrologist who
after taking a kidney biopsy and performing numerous function tests
confirmed that I had Kidney disease and it would get progressively
worse. The news was crushing. I held out hope but on May 26th 2005, I
was forced to go on Hemodialysis for three and a half hours a day, three
days a week. I also signed on for an organ transplant and I'm currently
listed at Mt. Sinai University Hospital in N.Y. It currently takes
approximately seven years to receive a kidney in N.Y. so I have a while
to go. While I was on dialysis, I never informed the NYPD medical
section of my condition for fear I would be placed on restricted duty.
I loved my work and it kept me positive. I thought that was the worst
it could get until December 26th, 2005 when I started coughing up quite
a bit of blood. Then in January of 2006 I had to be hospitalized for
the cough. I spent a week being treated and was released. I would wind
up back in the hospital a total of three more times in February, March
and April where I had two open lung surgeries. I was finally diagnosed
with a lung condition known as B.O.O.P. which my doctors attributed most
likely to the WTC. All this time, I was repeatedly denied a Line of
Duty Designation by the NYPD medical section. The fight for my rights
as a victim of the WTC incident was harder than my health battle and had
huge affects at home. Finally, in early 2007, I was interviewed and
examined by 3 doctors representing the city who agreed that the evidence
and medical records were overwhelming enough to grant me a retirement
based on my disability caused by the WTC.
I could be bitter and angry for what I've been through but it would
run counter to who I am. I have to be strong for my family. I feel I
am more fortunate than other first responders who suffer from conditions
I consider worse than mine. Still, I would not wish any of this on my
worst enemy. I have the support of an amazing wife and two children who
give me every reason to live. Any man would be extremely lucky and
fortunate to have the wife I've been blessed with. She's never wavered
or faltered and her bravery is unmatched. She is truly a once in a
lifetime women. I thank you for your help and what you've done to bring
awareness and aid to WTC First Responders. If I can be of assistance,
please let me know. God bless you and your staff.
Sincerely
Joseph Wittleder(NYPD/Ret.)
