Theo Alano was stunned by his diagnosis of end-stage kidney failure earlier this year and feared he wouldn’t survive long enough to find a donor. Desperate, he shared his story on social media, catching the attention of Mark Iacono, owner of the famed Brooklyn pizzeria Lucali. Iacono shared Alano’s story with Lucali’s quarter-million Instagram followers, inspiring customer Rusty Rastello to step forward. Motivated by memories of his uncle’s kidney donation, Rastello underwent testing and was amazed to learn he was a perfect match. After a successful transplant, the two men developed a close friendship. Once recovered, they reunited with Iacono at Lucali to celebrate the life-changing connection that started with a simple post—and a pizza.
Image via ABC
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