Teen with kidney disease finds donor living minutes away
A teenager born with a congenital kidney condition is getting a new lease on life, thanks to a stranger who turned out to live just minutes away.
Elias Manolis had long managed his condition, but by age 13, his health began to rapidly decline as his kidney function dropped to just 17%. Every day activities became exhausting.
"I couldn't bike because I would lose so much energy and I would get so tired," Elias told "Good Morning America" in an interview aired on Friday.
Congenital urinary tract conditions can lead to serious complications, including fetal loss and kidney failure in childhood or later in life, and may increase the risk of lifelong kidney disease, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.
With no match found within the family, the Manolis family turned to their community, sharing a public plea through local news and social media in hopes of finding a donor.
That call reached 44-year-old Tim Fitzpatrick and his wife, Stephanie Fitzpatrick.
"It just … something I felt compelled to do," Tim Fitzpatrick said.
Stephanie Fitzpatrick recalled the emotional impact of seeing the family's plea.
"I said, 'Wow, I can't imagine being this parent where you're pleading for somebody to help save your child's life," she said.
For the Fitzpatricks, the story hit especially close to home. Their own son, Logan, has faced health challenges, making Elias' situation feel deeply personal.
"The more I read about his story and seeing pictures of him lying in the hospital bed, I saw Logan," he said. "It just felt right to try to help this child and this family."
Despite the age difference, Tim Fitzpatrick was ultimately identified as a compatible donor.
"Unlike other organs that have to be matched, like the heart and the liver, kidneys, we can use adult kidneys, as long as the donor is young and a fairly compatible match, we go for it," Dr. Laura Malaga-Dieguez, a pediatric nephrologist at NYU Langone, told "GMA."
On March 23, Tim Fitzpatrick donated his kidney to Elias at Hassenfeld Children's Hospital at NYU Langone.
"I was just so happy, I didn't even know how to react," Elias said.
The two families met for the first time the following day, discovering they live just 10 minutes apart.
"It was a really happy moment. I was so shocked," Elias said.
Elias' mother, Margaret Manolis, hopes their story inspires others to consider organ donation, especially those who are "on the fence," reminding them that "you're literally saving a person's life."
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