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Partly Cloudy Cancer-stricken Franklin Square Munson Fire Department firefighter in need of stem cells
Firefighters from the Franklin Square Munson Fire Department are banding together for a fellow firefighter in need.
Chris Dand, a 25-year member of the department, is in need of a bone marrow transplant for his fight against a rare and aggressive cancer, and the department is hosting a stem cell donor drive to help recruit potential donors next Wednesday at 4 p.m.
The Fire Department partnered with Be the Match — a marrow registry operated by the National Marrow Donor Program — to run the donor drive and hand out saliva swab kits for testing compatibility. The department encourages people to test even sooner than the drive.
“Timing is everything — so the earlier, the better,” Fire Commissioner Les Saltzman said. “The more people on the registry, the better.”
Those who are interested in testing but can’t make it to the event may acquire a test from BeTheMatch.org and test anytime at home.
“How many people can say that they donated their stem cells and cured somebody of cancer and changed their life forever?” said Louis Sabatino, former Franklin Square Munson chief.
Dand’s journey with cancer
Dand was first diagnosed with T-cell prolymphocytic leukemia, a rare and aggressive cancer, in 2018. It is believed to have stemmed from when he was helping at ground zero in the days after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.
The median age for diagnosis of the disease is 61, and it affects more men than women.
In 2019, Dand received his first bone marrow transplant, from his brother.
It wasn’t a perfect match, but it was enough to put Dand into remission.
Since his first diagnosis, Dand has had to be careful about getting sick, since his immune system is low-functioning. As well, he has faced multiple medical side effects from cancer treatment.
The first time around, Dand “underwent treatment for months, taking a tremendous physical toll on his body,” according to the Fire Department.
His treatment the first time around was “pretty torturous,” Sabatino said. He was unable to return to work or to function as a firefighter on the ground. He has only been able to do administrative work for the department.
“We’d see Chris at the meetings, we would socialize with him, his wife and his kids,” Sabatino said. “We had put that behind us, but unfortunately it returned.”
As of last month, Dand’s cancer had returned.
At first he felt swelling in his legs, so he went to the hospital to get his blood drawn and the results showed he wasn’t in good shape, so the doctors sent him to the emergency room.
“Obviously with the treatments he has more bad days than good days,” said Joseph Gerrato, the Fire Department chief.
Since the chemo treatment kills healthy cells in addition to cancer cells, Dand needs stem cells to help all his blood cells get healthy again.
The physician performing the transplant procedure can decide whether to use stem cells or bone marrow, since the same donation can be used for both.
When the Fire Department did its first donor drive in 2018, Dand was there but wearing a mask and avoiding people. Because he is hospitalized, he won’t make it to the upcoming drive.
Dand in the community
Dand’s comrades described him as a “well-known, positive and active member of the Franklin Square community.”
Gerrato said he has known Dand for 30 years. They joined the same clubs and hung out in the same friendship circles as teenagers. He said Dand used to tinker with cars.
“He’s the type of guy, if you call him, he’s there,” Gerrato said.
As a child, Dand was a member of Boy Scout Troop 93 and eventually moved up the ranks to Eagle Scout after completing a beautification project for the town.
Today, he mentors the boys of Troop 93, including his own son.
Dand and his wife, Dorine, have two children. He’s an ironworker by trade, and received his 25-year award in March for his involvement with the Fire Department.
“He’s a wonderful guy,” said Sabatino. “He’s really sweet. He’s a good dad to his kids. He’s a good husband to his wife.”
