Eric Moy describes Rye, his hometown and the longtime location of his family’s business, as “a sacred place,” one that compelled him to go beyond his role as operator of Fong’s Hand Laundry.
Moy has volunteered as an auxiliary police officer in Rye for 20 years, coached the girls lacrosse team at Rye High School, and organized Rye High School alumni lacrosse fundraiser games to support scholarships and cancer research, according to his website.
“We just love our community,” Moy said recently. “I love everything about the small-town feel that we’ve always had, everything from the school fairs to Little League parades to the Memorial Day parades, everything. It’s just that hometown feel. For a community to be so tight, and which I’ve seen all my life, it’s pretty incredible.”
But now, Moy needs help.
He, his wife Jackie, and their two children are asking the community to spread awareness about kidney disease as he searches for a possible kidney donor.
As a young adult, Moy was diagnosed with diabetes. In 2021, Hurricane Ida flooded Fongs and, during the cleanup Moy contracted sepsis. Combined with possible COVID-related vascular damage, he experienced a lack of blood flow in his feet and toes. Complications and infections arose, and he took multiple rounds of antibiotics. After a while, the antibiotics began affecting his kidneys, leading to kidney disease.
His kidney function now is at 10 percent and he expects to go on dialysis soon. He will likely need a kidney transplant.
Fong’s Hand Laundry opened its doors in 1956. The third-generation family business, first run by See Ngum Moy, was passed down to his son, Sam Moy, and eventually to son Eric.
Although Fong’s closed this year, Moy described their service as “such a key thing” in the Rye community. He recalls many instances where he was able to help with weddings, funerals, graduations, and major life events.
“Some people always wait for the last minute, or there’s certain changes or whatever,” Moy said. “I was always glad to help them through those little crises.”
But a bigger crisis is now affecting the Moys. His wife, Jackie, a teacher at Greenwich High School, recalled the support and encouragement given by a colleague to go public with their story. They began with a GoFundMe page, with a goal of only $100. She hoped only to spread the word. She was unfamiliar with technology, but fellow teachers at Greenwich High school helped her find someone to set up a website to bring more attention to their cause.
When she wanted to print fliers about Eric’s disease, Jackie was referred to Arborn Printing and Graphics in Mamaroneck. After hearing her story, the owner prayed with Jackie and completed their order free of charge.
“It’s acts like that make you feel less alone, like you feel like people are really trying to help, no matter what the outcome is,” she said. “This is not a lonely path, and there are good people out there.”
One of those people is Andi Harrington Crosby, a friend of the Moys for over 10 years. Crosby shared Eric’s story online, saying she knew others would want to help.
“Eric’s the kind of person that if you need anything at any time of the day, he’d drop everything to help you out,” she said.
When Crosby was diagnosed with cancer a few years ago, the Moys organized meal trains, playdates for her children, and efforts at their school.
Eric helped all kids, not just his own, she said, remembering him helping to lift local kids onto a hayride. He and his family, she said, “they’re just those people in the community who always show up.”
“Even if you don’t personally know Eric, even as a stranger, you could help save the life of someone that you know a whole community of people want to still be a part of our community.” she said. “At least call. Find out what being a living donor means.”
According to Kara Ventura, clinical program director for transplant at Yale New Haven Transplantation Center for Living Organ Donors, Eric is completing his evaluation for transplant eligibility.
After the evaluation, his medical team will discuss whether transplant is a safe option for him.
Ventura explained that since donors have a team of social workers, surgeons, nephrologists, and nurses that is separate from the recipient’s, the “donor should feel that they’re being evaluated by a separate medical team who doesn’t even know the recipient and will have their best interest at heart, for their protection and safety.”
Because patients are listed for kidney transplants based on their blood type, the wait time can be up to six or eight years, which is why families are advised to take to social media and raise awareness.
“There’s just a lot of really good people that innately want to help others,” Ventura said. “It’s kind of nice to see. It’s a nice reminder in this day and age.”
Both Eric and Jackie said the support and love they have received from the community have been overwhelming and motivate them to continue in their search.
“First and foremost, of course, we want to find find a donor for my husband,” said Jackie. “But if we can help people to hear and be more aware of this, maybe my husband won’t be the one who benefits from it, but maybe someone else can.”
