Unfortunately, these aren't new circumstances for Sanalitro. It's been a tough stretch for the now 26-year-old, who already had a kidney transplant when she was 19, a year after her original diagnosis.
"A year after being diagnosed, I got put on kidney dialysis when I was 19," Sanalitro said. "I was on dialysis for about two and a half months and then, I got a kidney transplant. I got a direct donation last time from a 16-year-old boy who died in a car accident. His family made a direct donation for me. Their family actually saw my story on social media, reached out and wanted to give a direct donation to me and he would end up being a match. I got that transplant. About five years later, it wound up failing. They don't know why it failed. Now, I've been on dialysis for about a year and a half."
She's spent the last year-and-a-half accepting the jarring news and adapting to the circumstances. It hasn't been easy, as she's had to hold off on doing the things she loves, like being a cheer coach for a competition team.
But it hasn't stopped her from maintaining her positive spirit and continuing her pursuit. She began ideating ways to find a match for a kidney donation. She recalled an inspiring instance in 2018, where the Pittsburgh Penguins were able to share the story of a fan in need of a kidney and connect her with another fan who was a match and who selflessly donated his.
So, the former season ticket holder figured she'd put her story out there to the Islanders' faithful and see if the power and reach of social media could do the same.
The support so far has been moving. Members of the Blue and Orange Army have promoted her story across their own social media channels. She even got the attention of Islanders defenseman and 2022 All-Star representative Adam Pelech with a message on the backside of her sign that she held up on the glass before the game.
