LANGHORN, PA — Known as the City of Brotherly Love, Philadelphia may soon have a chance to live up to that name for one of its own—a Langhorne resident who now needs the strength and support of his community as he faces the fight of his life.
As reported by CBS News Philadelphia, 25-year-old AJ Tantala is making a public plea to the community as he searches for a life-saving kidney donor. In an effort to raise awareness, Tantala has placed six billboards across the Delaware Valley—each styled in the Phillies’ iconic font, featuring a photo of himself on opening day, and displaying a link to his website: kidney4aj.com.
The urgency behind Tantala’s plea stems from a lifelong battle with a serious medical condition. “I was born with Posterior Urethral Valve Syndrome, which led to kidney failure at age 2,” he shares on his website. “At that time I was rushed to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), where they performed surgery to remove the valves, however damage was done to my kidneys, and I was left with chronic kidney disease (CKD).”
“For the first 22 years of my life, I was just naive to it,” Tantala told CBS News Philadelphia. “I was ignoring it.”
Unfortunately, over the past three years, his condition has significantly worsened. His kidney function has now dropped to just 10%—a level well below the 20% threshold typically considered “transplant-ready,” according to his website.
What inspired the Phillies-themed billboards? In addition to his deep love for theater—what he describes on his website as his “biggest passion”—Tantala has always been a devoted Phillies fan, a connection he hoped would resonate with others across the region.
“I love the Phillies. I know so many people out there do too,” he told CBS News Philadelphia. “I thought if I went that route, it wouldn’t just reach more people but the hearts of a lot more people.”
While Phillies pitchers make their pitches from the mound this season, Tantala is making a different kind of pitch—a heartfelt plea to save his life. Driven by hope, resilience, and the steady support of those around him, he’s chasing the most important victory of all.
To learn more about AJ Tantala’s story or find out how to help, visit kidney4aj.com.
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