Glastonbury man finds two kidney donors in hometown, moves forward with surgeries amid pandemic

GLASTONBURY, Conn. (WTNH)– Organ donation is difficult however a pandemic makes it even more durable. However now factor are wanting up for a Glastonbury man with a uncommon genetic dysfunction.

This all began when a 34-year-old affected person determined to seek for a donor he wanted proper in his hometown in Glastonbury.

“I’m wanting ahead to only going again and residing an everyday life once more,” stated Nick Kalogeros.

Nick Kalogeros has been worrying about his kidney for 20 years. When he wanted a donor, his household took to Glastonbury espresso retailers to share his story. Then he acquired not one, however two matches. His cousin and a whole stranger.

“I used to be lucky sufficient to not solely do Nick’s transplant after I had obtained the kidney from Tyler, but in addition did the donation operation for Judi and ultimately despatched her kidney to Arizona the place it was efficiently transplanted,” stated Dr. Oscar Serrano, Hartford HealthCare.

All of them gathered for the primary time Tuesday over Zoom. Throughout the pandemic many elective surgical procedures have been postponed. However Nick and his now two donors moved ahead anyway.

“Having by no means had surgical procedure earlier than I didn’t know what to anticipate and albeit inside a few days I used to be up and strolling round. And inside a few weeks I used to be again at work,” stated Tyler Kalogeros-Treschuk, Washington, D.C.

“In my thoughts I used to be going to have my household round me after we did this and that’s not the way it turned out. It turned out to be fantastic anyway,” stated Judi Edwards, Glastonbury.

Docs ended up sending Judi’s kidney to a recipient in Arizona.

In the meantime, Nick is past grateful for the reward of life and he’s gearing as much as drive for the primary time this week.

“It’s 5 weeks on Thursday because the surgical procedure and issues couldn’t have gone smoother for me,” stated Kalogeros. “I need to thank all people for doing this for me. It’s mainly one other lease on life for me.”