DONATE LIFE ORGAN DONATION AWARENESS-NIXA, MISSOURI

Firefighter from Nixa MO gave more than normal service to save a life

by Chad Plein, KY3 News

NIXA, Mo. -- Those who work in law enforcement live by the motto “to serve and protect.”

One man in Christian County recently took that dedication home with him. Heroes are brave. Heroes are selfless. Nixa Fire Captain Scott Moore is both.

“Are you a hero?” a reporter asked.

“No; no way,” Moore said.

“We make choices every day. That's why I love the fire service -- because we always step up,” said Nixa Fire Chief Jimmy Sebree.

Recently, the fire alarm didn't ring. Moore's telephone alarmingly did.

“He said, ‘I'm having issues,’” Moore said. Moore’s older brother, Kevin, was on the other end. “He felt awful,” said Moore. He needed a kidney transplant. “There wasn't even a question. It was yes,” said Moore. “It's my brother; I need my brother, my daughter needs her uncle.” He had his family's blessing. “I thought, ‘Okay, great!’” said Gretchen Moore, Scott’s wife.

He also had his the blessing of his “other” family – the fire department. “That was the right thing in Scott's mind to do,” said Sebree.

Scott did a lot of research. “I watched a kidney transplant on YouTube; couldn't make it through,” he said.

He decided to go through with being a living donor. He says the benefit outweighs the many risks. “We get a chance to do more for others,” Scott said. “I was nervous; I’d never had surgery.”

“I was trying to be strong,” said Gretchen.

“I remember the hallway, then the O.R.,” said Scott.

“The length without seeing him, it was long,” said Gretchen.

“It was quick,” Scott joked.

“I touched his foot, and was like, woo,” said Gretchen.

“My kidney function is great. His creatine levels were better than mine,” said Scott. “I said, ‘I gave him the wrong one.’”

After five weeks, Scott was able to return to the fire department for light duty.

He's since resumed all full responsibilities of a fire captain, husband, father-- and brother.

“It was like he got his life back,” said Scott.

“If you have the opportunity, it’s rewarding,” said Gretchen.

Scott is now a huge proponent of organ donation.

“Please, let me save your son's life, your husband’s,” he said.

Scott Moore is brave and selfless.

“Is he a hero?” a reporter asked again. “Of course, every day at his job, as a husband and father,” said Gretchen.

Almost every member of the Nixa Fire Department donated some of his or her sick leave to Moore so he'd have some spare hours available if something went wrong.

Moore says the reason he's not a hero is because every Tuesday and Thursday at KU Medical Center in Kansas City, there are at least two living organ donations performed. Many heroes walk among us.