WA Firefighter Back after Transplant: 'New Heart, New Start'

In 2018, Reece Chambers received a heart transplant, one of the hundreds of people whose life is extended by the cardiac procedure.

But his operation became even more significant month when he returned Jan. 2 to the Chimacum fire station where he works.

On that day, Chambers, 42, likely became the first Washington firefighter to return to frontline duty following a heart transplant, the Peninsula Daily News reports. He serves as a lieutenant with East Jefferson Fire Rescue.

"New heart, new start,” Chambers said. “I get a new start at life

Chambers required the transplant after he was diagnosed with an enlarged heart, which eventually led to heart failure. And those cardiac issues were caused by materials he had be exposed to over his firefighting materials, East Jefferson Fire Chief Jim Walkowski told the Daily News

That hasn't deterred Chambers and his return to firefighting, either.

“You wouldn’t know he had a heart transplant,” Walkowski said. "He’s the Energizer bunny right now. It’s like Reece 2.0. He’s back.”