Former firefighter receives life-saving heart transplant after years of service

Barbara Fudge, a dedicated disaster response volunteer and former firefighter, has received a life-saving heart transplant. The surgery took place on December 11 at UR Medicine’s Strong Memorial Hospital after her heart began to fail due to cardiomyopathy. Fudge’s health struggles started years earlier. In February 2015, she was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation, a condition that disrupts normal heart rhythm. Months ago, her condition worsened when doctors confirmed cardiomyopathy, a disease that weakens the heart muscle.

The transplant was performed by Juan Lehoux, M.D., at Strong Memorial Hospital. Fudge had spent years serving others—first as a volunteer firefighter and emergency medical technician for nearly two decades, then as a longtime American Red Cross disaster responder. She was among the volunteers who rushed to New York City after the September 11 attacks in 2001. Her transplant came at a critical time. Across New York, around 10,000 people are currently waiting for organ transplants. At Strong Memorial alone, 450 patients are awaiting a heart, liver, kidney, or pancreas. The Finger Lakes Donor Recovery Network, which facilitated the transplant, oversees organ donation across 20 counties, covering 2.4 million residents and 38 hospitals in the region. Fudge, who lives with her husband Clint and has two grown children, now faces a long recovery. The procedure offers her a second chance after years of service to her community.

The successful transplant highlights the ongoing need for organ donors in New York. Fudge’s case also underscores the impact of organ donation networks in saving lives. Her recovery will be closely monitored as she returns to health after decades of helping others in emergencies.