New Kidney Atop Glastonbury's Dad's Wish List For Holidays

GLASTONBURY, CT — A 33-year-old Glastonbury dad has nothing higher on his wish list this holiday season than a new kidney.

Since Nick Kalogeros was a boy, his family has known he would eventually go into kidney failure and need a transplant. Nick has Alport Syndrome, which is a rare genetic disease that causes damage to the kidneys and eventually kidney failure.

In April, Kalogeros went into kidney failure. He now must live on peritoneal dialysis until he gets a new kidney. But there is at least a five-to-10 year wait list to receive a kidney from a deceased donor, suppoters said.

Kalogeros, who lives in Glastonbury with his wife, Kristen, and their 1-year-old son. Despite his illness, Nick manages to go to work every day, has what friend describe as "a great sense of humor" and never complains, explained his mom.

Nick is hoping for a living donor, as the success rate is much better. But so far, despite extensive outreach, a donor match hasn’t been found.

Nick is part of the Donor Exchange Program at Hartford Hospital. Anyone who is healthy and interested in being a living donor, regardless of blood type, can get tested.

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For more information or to be tested, call his Living Donor Coordinator at 860-972-4632. All calls are strictly confidential.