'Pay It Forward': Blood Drive Honors Beloved EMT Heather McNamara

ISLIP, NY — The Islip Terrace Fire Department is hosting a blood drive in December in honor of a beloved young woman, EMT, and childhood cancer survivor who passed away last June and called Islip Terrace home.

Heather McNamara, 22, died June 1 due to organ failure after an extended illness. She was an EMT with Exchange Ambulance of the Islips who bravely battled childhood cancer and survived with a smile and a dedication to giving back to her community.
In honor of McNamara's December birthday, the fire department planned the blood drive for Tuesday, Dec. 3, from noon to 9 p.m.

Organizers are also asking donors to bring unwrapped toys or pet food to be given to local individuals in need.
McNamara was diagnosed with cancer at three years old. When she was seven, she made headlines for undergoing a rare, groundbreaking surgery with a 50/50 survival rate that removed six of her organs to access and remove a tumor the size of a tennis ball, according to reports.

The rare surgery, which took around 23 hours, was documented on an episode of "The Good Doctor." Heather also became the poster child for cancer survival in a commercial for New York Presbyterian Hospital.
Until her passing, McNamara worked to help her community as an EMT and was an ambassador for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, where she helped grant wishes to children battling critical illnesses.

In a flyer advertising the blood drive, organizers wrote: "Heather was all about helping and giving to others. In keeping her memory alive, the family is asking the community to donate blood and to pay it forward to help save 3 lives with your donation."
"Always remember her smile, her energy, and continue to spread her sunshine," the statement concluded.

The Islip Fire Department is located at 264 Beaver Dam Road in Islip Terrace.