Disabled Wildland Fire Fighter Needs Your Help

Edison Notah, 64, is a member of the Navajo Nation in Arizona and is a life-long Wildland Fire Fighter. He has been employed, as a Wildland Firefighter, with the US Department of Interior’s Bureau of Indian Affairs, US Forest Service and private wildland fire contractors throughout the entire United States. Ed began his firefighting career in 1978 and has spent over 40 years protecting human life, property, values at risk, and natural resources. Throughout Ed’s career, he served in various capacities including Single Resource, Helitack, Engine Boss, Crew Rep and Crew Boss for hand crews (Tac 2 IA) and Chainsaw Operator.

In August of 2021, Ed got sick while on a fire line at the Antelope Fire in the Klamath National Forest in northern California. He was serving as an Engine Boss. After he was diagnosed with pneumonia, it was determined the damage to his lungs, due to long term exposure to smoke and fire, was permanent and he needed new lungs in order to survive. In September of 2021, Ed was added as a candidate for a double-lung transplant at Stanford Medical Center in California. After being flown from Klamath Falls, Oregon to Stanford Medical Center, Ed was a recipient of a double-lung transplant. Thanks to loving family and the elite Medical Transplant Team at Stanford Medical Center, Ed has now returned to his family in Albuquerque, New Mexico but is still required to return to Stanford periodically for medical appointments.

Since his double-lung transplant in 2021, Ed is now fully disabled and needs continuous medical monitoring at hospitals in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Ed is no longer able to work and receives minimal financial support through the Social Security Administration and this compensation is inadequate in providing for his family. He is living in Albuquerque with his family including twin grandsons whom are 8 year old twins that he is adopting. Ed is in need of immediate financial assistance to help in providing for himself and his family. This includes food, rent, utilities, vehicle maintenance costs, insurance, clothing and school support for his children, health care for his family and travel expenses to travel to California for medical appointments. Ed is required to live in Albuquerque as he needs to be close to hospitals for his health monitoring.

Ed has applied to First Responder non-profit organizations for financial assistance and has been denied; he does not meet specific eligibility criteria to qualify for assistance. Financial donations are requested. Additionally, any information on potential First Responder non-profit organizations that may be able to help is appreciated.