We have a follow up to a firefighter’s battle.  Kentuckiana rallied around the 37-year-old who is losing his sight.  And we’ve discovered an amazing connection with another firefighter who saw our first story.

Darrell Girdley is legally blind.  His condition, Stargardt’s disease is rapidly progressing years earlier than in most cases.  He’s a highly-decorated firefighter, with 3 life-saving awards and Firefighter of the Year, four years in a row, just to name a few.

Tonight his fellow brothers held a fundraiser to help until disability, his only option now, kicks in.   But for Darrell, he found not only support from his community, but from a new friend and a generous doctor as well.

It’s a one-in-a-million chance, at least Darrell Girdley and Darrell Miller think so.  Both men have the same ocular condition - Stargardt’s disease.

After Whas11 told the story of Darrell Girdly, the response was overwhelming.  First, a viewer with the same career, rare disease, even the same name called.  Then, we got the call from the doctor at the John Kenyon Eye Institute.  All tonight meeting, for the first time

And as Darrell Girdley waited for Darrell Milller to arrive, he got the other surprise.  A specialist from the John Kenyon American Eye Institute came to tell Darrell, who is now without income or insurance, they wanted to help.  Payment not necessary, he said, because Darrell has saved enough lives in his career.

Then yet another surprise, one of those whose life he’d saved was standing just a few feet away.

And then finally, the long-awaited and emotional meeting of the two Darrell(s); a support system for both, and a friendship for life

Stargardts disease is genetic, normally it doesn’t affect those that have it until after the age of sixty.   While Darrell Miller’s condition is much less severe than his new friend, the two say they now have support they didn’t ever think was even possible.

Web story published by Chris Wright

He's been named Firefighter of the Year 4 times, won 3 medals for saving lives, and another award for helping after Hurricane Katrina.  Now, a Shelby County firefighter is facing a disease with no cure that is taking his eye sight, and his dream.

Darrell Girdley, a highly-decorated firefighter of twenty one years has dedicated his life to saving others, but he's nearing the end of his career; not because of a lack of love for his job, but because of the loss of his eye sight

Darrell has Stargardt's, an optical disease that will eventually take away his eyesight completely.  Let go from his full-time paid position at the Eastwood Fire Department, Darrell says his fellow firefighters kept him on for as long as they could.

Darrell has now filed for disability; his only option.  He is now legally blind, but that hasn’t stopped him or his fellow firefighters from keeping him on the volunteer Mt. Eden and Eastwood Fire Departments.

Typically the disease hits much later in life, but Darrell's only thirty seven and the disease has been progressing very aggressively.  Now his fellow firefighters are saving ‘him’ by holding a fundraiser this Saturday to get him through until his disability kicks in

While the disease is debilitating, the emotions along with it are devastating; not only for Darrell, but for his fellow brothers who will always see Darrell as a hero in their eyes

The Mt. Eden Fire Department will have a fish fry to benefit Darrell’s family on Saturday, May 17 at 5:00 p.m. until ?  Adult tickets are $7 and children’s tickets are $4.

Web story published by Chris Wright