Manager Saves His Customer's Life By Donating Kidney

[Refugee 7]

Huntington, NY (AHN) - The sales manager of a Long Island banquet hall in New York offered to donate a kidney to one of his former customers, who was about to die of a polycystic kidney disease, a genetic disorder at play in his mother's, grandmother's and brother's deaths.

Matt Fulgieri, a 42-year-old father of two young boys who lives in Astoria, Queens, was left with only weeks to live, when he received a successful kidney transplant from Rick Bellando, who had become a friend after booking Fulgieri's wedding.

Initially, Fulgieri was unwilling to accept the offer, as Bellando had three little girls and he didn't want anybody with children to get tested. But Fulgieri had to agree eventually as family donors had failed to be a match and the list of options was getting shorter by the day.

Fulgieri said, "He was amazing. He was always calm, almost angelic. He never made me or my family feel uncomfortable."

"I'm so thankful," he said, adding that, "He not just saved me, he saved my boys also from not having a father as they grow up and my wife from not having a husband."

"I feel great, really good and it will be seven weeks tomorrow," Fulgieri said.

The surgery was done Nov. 6. Both Bellanndo and Fulgieri, an insurance broker, are back at their work now.

[KansasPettyFan 1]

That is so nice to read. What a gift!!!

[nurktwin 2,143]

that's great. even tho they mention it's only been 7 weeks, i hope it all works well in the long run. god bless the donors and the doctors that do this stuff..

[Echosoftom 3]

Who says there aren't any good people left in this world? What a wonderful gift...Kudos to Mr. Bellando!:023:

[agirl 0]

What a great guy. A story like this gives you faith in humanity.

[wild1forever 152]

What a wonderful thing to do.

[Starfish 0]

That really warms my heart

[WildflowerNJ 136]

God bless these people...warms my heart, too. Thank you for posting this, Linda...