'He's my warrior.' Franklin Square teen seeks kidney donor
A Franklin Square teenager living with UPJ Obstruction is seeking a kidney donor.
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A teenager in Franklin Square is asking for the gift of life this Christmas.
Elias Manolis, 13, suffers from a birth condition that affects both his kidneys. But he doesn't let his medical problems stop him from being himself.
"I have friends. I love my teachers, love my teachers and school is easy," Elias said.
He's a member of his school's chess club and mathletes.
"He's my warrior. He's a great kid. He's fun. He's great with kids, especially young kids. He has a kindness to him which is truly remarkable," says Margaret Manolis, Elias's mom.
Since February, his family has been looking for a donor.
"We found out there was a big decline and we started the process for the transplant list, which we are on. We are looking for a living donor," Margaret said.
She says her son's kidneys are functioning at 19% and will give out in six to eight months.
"It's taken a toll on the whole family, not just him," she said. "His father, his younger brother. We all see the unhappy part of kidney disease."
While the family hopes to get a donor in the coming months, Elias hopes to get a match for the holidays.
"Trying to get a kidney is hard. We've tried getting a kidney. At this point, we have a lot of support," Elias said. "We're going to get it!"
If you'd like to donate, click the link here. You can also reach out to a transplant coordinator at Northwell at 516-562-0567.
