NJ Teen Needs Kidney Donor in Weeks to Avoid Dialysis

Thaddeus Giansanti has fought kidney disease since before he was even born, but now his family is racing against the clock to find him a donor within weeks.

The 13-year-old New Jersey eighth grader lost one kidney before he was 5 months old. His remaining kidney, diagnosed with chronic kidney disease, has carried him through childhood with the help of lifelong medications and regular doctor visits.

Everything seemed stable until last year. As Thaddeus grew bigger and more active, the stress on his single kidney increased, and his bloodwork began showing concerning changes.

Doctors told his parents, Christa DeMark and Carlo Giansanti, that finding a living donor is their best option. Recent test results have accelerated the timeline dramatically, and without a transplant in the next couple weeks, Thaddeus will need to start dialysis.

His parents aren't a match. That's when they made the difficult decision to share their son's story publicly for the first time.

"We wanted Thad to just be the bright, happy person that he is, so we've minimized it for years," DeMark said. But the urgency of his declining health pushed them to reach out to their community.

Thaddeus is a straight-A student who recently earned multiple scholarships for high school next year. He plays soccer, golfs, fences, and volunteers at his local food pantry and church as an altar server.

His parents describe him as smart, outgoing, and family-oriented. Despite facing difficult medical challenges throughout his young life, Thaddeus has remained remarkably positive.

The Ripple Effect

The response to Thaddeus's story has been overwhelming. After years of keeping their son's condition private, his parents never expected the outpouring of support from people wanting to help.

"It has pushed us to rely on faith in a way that's very palpable," DeMark said. "We are just coming together as a family and taking each day as it comes."

Potential donors must be 45 or younger, have a BMI under 30, and match Thaddeus's O blood type. The laparoscopic procedure has a quick healing process and is covered by the family's insurance, not the donor's.

"We are remaining hopeful because we know there's a solution to this problem," his mother said.