Bergen County Dad And Cookie Business Owner Needs A Kidney

FRANKLIN LAKES, NJ — A Franklin Lakes father and business owner is seeking a kidney donor, and time is running out, his loved ones say.

Thomas Minardi, 65, spends nearly 11 hours each night hooked up to a dialysis machine in his Franklin Lakes home.

Minardi, who grew up in Paterson and Woodland Park, has three adult children and two grandsons, 5 and 3.

"Dialysis is becoming more difficult for him every day, and he cannot do this alone," his kidney advocate, Donna Tissot, told Patch. "Dialysis does the work kidneys can no longer do well ... It removes waste and extra fluid from the blood and helps keep important minerals in balance. But dialysis can take an enormous toll. It can leave a person exhausted, weak, dizzy, nauseated, cramping, unable to sleep well, and completely drained."

She noted, "a kidney transplant could give him something dialysis cannot: the opportunity to reclaim his life, his energy, his freedom, and precious time with the people he loves."

The longer Minardi spends on the waiting list, the less healthy he will be if he eventually receives a transplant, she noted.

"Taking the first step does not mean you are committing to donation," she said. "It simply means learning whether living kidney donation may be right for you."

Minardi grew up in Paterson and Woodland Park before raising a family in Franklin Lakes.

"I'm not ready to kick the bucket," said the 65-year-old an interview with Patch earlier this year. "The rest of me is pretty good. I want to see them grow up. I want to see my other daughter get married. My son is getting married in November."

Little Warning

Minardi was diagnosed with kidney disease in 2018. He says he had little warning before his diagnosis.

"I never smoked, never drank, didn't have diabetes," he said. "I had a bad sore throat years ago that I never went to the doctor for. That might have caused it....Once the damage is done to your kidneys, they get progressively worse. Kidneys don't talk to you until they're almost done."

Minardi's kidneys failed in 2019. He found a donor and was ready to have transplant surgery in 2020. Then, the person backed out because of the pandemic, he said.

TV news stations aired a story about the dilemma, and a woman donated her kidney, but wanted to remain anonymous.

Minardi says he still doesn't know who she is.

He had successful surgery in 2020, but dealt with complications last year. Now he needs a new living kidney donor.

Minardi, who graduated from Montclair State University in 1983, said he has worked his whole life — in fact, the reason he undergoes dialysis each night is that he works during the day.

His family's cookies, Mama Minardi, have been sold since 1927. These days, the company mainly distributes them to supermarkets.

Minardi is listed for a transplant at Hackensack University Medical Center in Hackensack. If you or someone you know is interested in being evaluated as a living donor, you can visit: hmh.donorscreen.org/register/now and indicate that you're a prospective donor for Thomas Minardi.

All blood types are accepted, as Hackensack participates in the paired kidney exchange program.

You can also call Joanna at 551-996-1770. Indicate that you are interested in donating for Thomas Minardi. The transplant team will explain the process and answer questions.

Tissot said that if you can't donate, you can still help by sharing Minardi's story with everyone they know.