Pennsylvania Man Requested Living Kidney Donor
Anthony Grack, who battles stage five kidney failure, is seeking a donor through regional transplant programs.
Updated on Sept. 29, 2026 in Philanthropy
Anthony Grack has officially requested a living kidney donor as he deals with rapidly declining kidney function. Grack is currently listed on transplant registries in Pittsburgh and Erie.
Why it matters
Grack's condition is deteriorating due to FSGS, a rare kidney disease that has impacted multiple generations of his family. He currently faces the imminent prospect of needing dialysis to survive.
Grack is currently on transplant lists in both Pittsburgh and Erie to improve his chances of finding a match. He is the father of 3 children, all of whom are navigating the implications of the hereditary disease.
The players
Anthony Grack
He is a Pennsylvania resident currently living with stage five kidney failure and seeking a living donor.
Anthony Jr.
He is the son of Anthony Grack and is currently battling the same rare kidney disease, FSGS.
The details
Diagnosed with FSGS in 2016, Grack is suffering from stage five kidney failure, a condition that previously claimed his mother's life and now affects his son, Anthony Jr. Interested donors are being encouraged to explore the kidney paired donation program, which facilitates transplants even when blood types do not initially match.
Timeline
2016: Anthony Grack received his initial diagnosis of kidney disease.
Market Landscape
Grack's search follows the established mechanics of the National Kidney Registry's paired kidney exchange protocols to overcome blood type barriers. This approach represents the current standard for expanding the pool of available organs for patients with rare, hereditary conditions.
Individuals interested in potentially becoming a donor can contact the transplant programs directly at 814-877-3625 or 412-647-4438. These inquiries provide critical support to patients like Grack who are actively working to avoid the long-term necessity of dialysis.
The takeaway
Living donation remains one of the most effective ways to address the shortage of kidneys for patients facing end-stage failure. Potential donors can undergo screening to see if they are a match for Grack or other patients in the paired donation network.
Further reading
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Source note: This article includes information reported by Erie News Now - Your News Team.
