A New Jersey family is urgently seeking a living kidney donor for 13-year-old Thaddeus Giansanti, who was born with serious kidney problems and now faces imminent failure of his only remaining kidney. After surgeries as an infant and years of medical care, Thaddeus needs a transplant soon to avoid dialysis, and his parents are publicly asking for qualified donors who match his blood type and meet age and health criteria. The family describes him as a bright, active kid who volunteers and excels in school, and they are sharing his story now because time is running out and community help could save his life.
The diagnosis first arrived before Thaddeus was born, when an ultrasound showed something unusual. “It was nothing alarming at that point — it looked like he had extra fluid when he was born,” his mother said, and early bloodwork then raised concerns that led to nephrology follow-up. By five months he had already undergone a left nephrectomy, removing his left kidney, and his medical journey continued from there.
The remaining kidney has handled his life so far, but growth and time have taken a toll on its function. “His remaining kidney is now failing,” his father, Carlo Giansanti, said plainly, and doctors have told the family that a living donor is the best path forward. The situation has accelerated lately because recent labs show declining kidney function, making a quick match a priority.
Thaddeus has been monitored by nephrology teams his entire life and has required ongoing medications to manage chronic kidney disease. “He’s been with nephrology and nephrologists his entire life, and up until last year, everything’s been stable, but that’s been slowly changing,” DeMark said, explaining how the stress of growth is straining his kidney. The family faces the reality that without a transplant within a few weeks he may need to begin dialysis, which would dramatically alter his routine and opportunities.
The parents are not a match for Thaddeus, so they are appealing to the wider community for help and awareness. “Everything’s been sped up based on his bloodwork lately,” DeMark said, describing why they moved from private coping to public outreach. They had kept his condition low-key to let him be a normal, upbeat kid, but now the clock requires more hands to reach out and see who can step forward.
Despite the medical uncertainty, Thaddeus remains upbeat and involved in many activities that define him beyond his illness. He is a straight-A student and has been awarded multiple scholarships as he prepares to enter high school, and he plays soccer, golfs, fences, and practices piano. He also serves his community through volunteering, including altar serving and work at the local food pantry, which paints a picture of a thoughtful, engaged teenager.
The family describes him as affectionate and community-minded. “He loves his family, and loves doing things with his family,” DeMark said, and that sense of connection is driving their decision to ask others for help. Friends, neighbors, and local organizations have already reached out, and that early support has been humbling for the parents.
“We wanted Thad to just be the bright, happy person that he is, so we’ve minimized it for years,” DeMark said, explaining why they only recently began speaking up. The past weeks have brought an unexpected wave of people offering support, and “We never expected to have such an outpouring of people who cared or people trying to help — it’s been incredibly humbling,” she added.
The family leans on faith and daily routines to keep hope alive as they pursue a transplant solution. “It has pushed us to rely on faith in a way that’s very palpable — we are just coming together as a family and taking each day as it comes,” she went on, and they remain focused on practical next steps. “We are remaining hopeful because we know there’s a solution to this problem. We just need help.”
Medical teams laid out donor criteria so prospective helpers can self-assess before engaging the transplant program. Donors should be 45 or younger, have a body mass index under 30, and match Thaddeus’ O blood type, and the surgery is described as a laparoscopic procedure with a “fairly quick” healing process. The family notes that transplant-related logistics and care are coordinated through the program, and they are asking anyone who meets the criteria and feels called to consider donating to contact the transplant center to learn more.
“The miracle Thad needs right now is people who have the ability to step up,” she added. “He is a great kid, a kind kid.” If a compatible living donor can be found quickly, Thaddeus can avoid months on dialysis and return to the school, sports, and volunteer activities he loves. For those ready to explore this lifesaving option, the transplant program has a living donor questionnaire and evaluation process to begin matching and testing potential donors.
