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NY Fire Department Medical Officer Honored at 'Breath of Life'
Double lung transplant recipient Bettina Irvine and her husband Ken hosted the Breath of Life Cocktail Reception, which raised more than $90,000 for the Alpha-1 Foundation’s lung transplant research programs, at the Greenwich Country Club in Greenwich, CT, on Sunday, June 8.
Sportswriter, author and commentator Frank Deford was the Honorary Chair and introduced Bettina Irvine and Len Geiger, also a double lung transplant recipient, who competes in 5K and other walking/running competitions with Kevin and Kristi Shroyer, the parents of his lung donor. Deford also introduced Bettina’s transplant team, Drs. Arcasoy and Sonett of Columbia University Medical Center, where the lung transplant survival rates are among the highest in the country.
David Prezant, MD, NYFD Chief Medical Officer, and Bettina Irvine.
Bettina Irvine presented the “Alpha-1 Viking Explorers Award” to David Prezant, MD, Chief Medical Officer of the New York Fire Department, for his Alpha-1 testing of the first responders to the destruction of the World Trade Center towers on Sept. 11, 2001. She read a statement from New York Fire Department Deputy Chief Gerry Wren: “I have been a member of the New York City Fire Department for almost 30 years and can tell you that it would be hard to find anyone who can match the dedication and commitment to the members of the NYFD than Dr. Prezant. You could not have chosen a more honorable individual to honor.”
John Walsh, President and CEO of the Alpha-1 Foundation, spoke about the new Genetic Information Discrimination Act (GINA), which forbids employers or insurers from discriminating on the basis of genetic information. Walsh said the Foundation is planning a workshop to discuss the implications and the possibility of testing newborn babies for Alpha-1. He congratulated Bettina and Ken Irvine for their “pioneering advocacy efforts on behalf of GINA in Washington.”
Ken and Bettina Irvine.
More than 100 people attended the event in spite of a sudden thunderstorm which caused flash flooding and knocked down trees.
Photos by Gloria Waslyn
