Trumbull Doctor Seeks Donor For Lifesaving Kidney Transplant

TRUMBULL, CT — A Trumbull physician facing kidney failure is currently seeking a living donor for a lifesaving kidney transplant.

The Connecticut Post reports Mongillo, a 72-year-old Trumbull resident, is battling Stage 5 kidney failure, also known as end-stage renal disease.

According to an informational page set up to help him locate a donor, Anthony "Tony" Mongillo is suffering from "end-stage kidney failure" that requires life-sustaining peritoneal dialysis, which he began in December 2021, for up to 11 hours a day.

"Unfortunately the alarms go off all night long, requiring that I get up and reset the machine," Mongillo's page reads. "I have had numerous dialysis machines malfunction, obstructing my treatments and requiring new machines. I must have dialysis every day the rest of [my] life unless I can get a new kidney."

According to the page, Mongillo's life has become very challenging due to sleep deprivation and exhaustion.

"Some days it is hard to get out of bed," the page reads.

The Connecticut Post reports Mongillo's doctors in New York City have said the wait list for a new kidney from a deceased donor is at least seven years, making a living donor Mongillo's best hope for a better quality of life.

Additionally, the National Kidney Registry indicates the longer a patient with kidney failure spends on dialysis, the greater the odds of a patient suffering complications after the transplant, according to the Connecticut Post.

"Once I receive a new kidney, I look forward to having my life back," Mongillo's page reads. "I love to cook and make dinner for my family on Sundays. I want to babysit, watch my grandchildren grow and be there for them. I miss traveling, gardening, entertaining and going out to dinner."

Anyone who would consider donating their kidney can learn more about the process, including basic kidney donation information, here.

Mongillo also noted anyone can help him by sharing his story and his page, either through email or social media.

"Just by sharing my story," the page reads, "you will help save my life."

Mongillo grew up in New Haven, where he dreamt of becoming a doctor at a young age. He later graduated from Providence College and attended medical school at the University of Rome in Italy.

He maintained a private practice in Bridgeport as an internist and geriatrician, and has served as a corporate medical advisor to the Sikorsky Aircraft aviation company in Stratford for nearly 40 years.

A devout catholic, he is also a member of the St. Catherine Of Siena parish. As his faith is a big part of his life, its is only appropriate that the top of his page serves as a reminder to anyone considering donating to his cause: "living donors make miracles happen."