Tewksbury Resident In Need of Living Kidney Donor

Dulock was recently diagnosed with end-stage kidney disease, and community is stepping up

Family and friends of 52-year-old Tewksbury husband, father and small-business owner Steve Dulock have launched a website and social media campaign to find a living kidney donor. The theme is green, which is the ribbon color representing the selfless act of becoming a registered organ donor or making a living donation.

Coincidentally, today is Kidney Heroes Giving Day, according to the National Kidney Foundation, which provides information, donor services and funding for research.

“If you’re someone with a big heart and the willingness to make a difference, please consider becoming my kidney donor,” Dulock wrote in an open letter. “Your generosity could provide me with a second chance at life and allow me to continue to care for my wonderful family. I want to be here to see my sons get married and have a family someday. Family is everything to me and I am going to fight with everything I have.”

Residents Phil and Krissy Polimeno and Todd and Kristen Keane are longtime friends of the Dulock family and helped pull the informational website together.

“Over the past 20 years, we have had the opportunity to see firsthand what an extraordinary person Steve Dulock is and feel grateful for our friendship,” said the Polimenos. “Steve has always shown great empathy, passion and commitment to all those around him — he has always put his family, friends, colleagues and others first. But now the time has come to make Steve a priority, to help take care of him.”

To find out if they’re a match, potential donors 18 and over first fill out a questionnaire. Should an individual be a possible fit, the next steps are initial lab tests, a medical records review and interviews. An experienced advocate may be assigned, and there are comprehensive educational services. Further evaluations involve CT scans and other tests. All expenses are covered for donors.

According to the National Kidney Foundation, there are 100,000 people waiting for kidney transplants. Dulock’s supporters hope to raise awareness with this education campaign.

“Friendship is a special bond that brings hearts together, and in times of need, it makes it easy to step up and help in whatever way we can,” said the Keanes. “The Dulock family is very special to us. So, please join us in spreading the word to help Steve find a living kidney donor. Every person who talks about it or shares on social media brings us one step closer to finding a match. Ultimately it will just take one special person to be his lifeline.”  

Residents can help by sharing the website or Facebook page with their networks.

To find out if you’re a potential match, fill out the Living Donor Questionnaire that will be shared only with the transplant service at Massachusetts General Hospital. When completing the health questionnaire, please note the recipient’s name as Steven Dulock, birth date 10/03/1970.

If you have questions, please reach out to admin@kidneyforsteve.com or the transplant service at Massachusetts General Hospital at www.MGHLivingDonors.org. The questionnaire is completely secure and accessible only by the transplant clinic.

You can also make a donation to the National Kidney Foundation to help develop treatments and match donors with those in need.