Ill Berlin Fire Captain Needs A Kidney As Department Rallies Community Support

BERLIN, CT — Kensington Fire-Rescue is asking the community to consider becoming a living kidney donor for one of its longtime members as Capt. Donald J. "DJ" Pavasaris battles kidney disease.

Pavasaris has served the residents of Berlin for the past 13 years and currently holds the rank of captain with Kensington Fire-Rescue.

In a social media post, the department described him as a devoted family man and a valued friend while encouraging the public to help shorten his wait for a kidney transplant.

According to the department, people in need of a kidney transplant often spend an average of five to seven years waiting for a compatible organ through the National Organ Transplant Registry.

A living donor, however, can reduce that wait to just a few months.

Kensington Fire-Rescue also encouraged residents to share the information to help expand the search for a potential donor.

The department noted that a living donor does not need to be related to the recipient and said anyone interested in learning more about donation can contact Hartford Hospital's Living Kidney Donation program at 860-696-2021 or visit hartfordhospital.org/livingkidneydonation.