Like many men in their 30s, Michael Vastarelli likes to keep in shape through a gym membership, has a steady career, and loves his dog. On a recent Tuesday afternoon, one of two days the software engineer works from home each week, the Newtown resident said his dog, Cookie, "is staring at the door right now, and wants to go outside." But unlike other men his age, he has been living with kidney disease and daily dialysis. He first spoke with 15The Bee in April 20The Bee, Mr Vastarelli had said he was "pretty sure there aren't a whole lot of 30-something professionals trying to balance work/life and dialysis." His daily routine has not changed, which is good, he said. His routine includes at-home dialysis treatments and management. He described dialysis as a "chronic burden that involves constant doctor checkups, nightly rituals, and makes something as simple as visiting my sister's house in Durham a huge chore."Still Hoping For A Matchher donation page, "Education about organ donation is the key to success, I have personally reached out to many different organizations, churches, schools and other outreach programs to help inform and encourage people to give the gift of life. Every day 17-20 people die waiting for a donation. It is a crucial and rewarding gift to another human being, and it is a life-changing experience not only for the patient but for the donor."Dancing for Donations is scheduled for March 18 at Aria Banquet Facility in Prospect.

, and readers learned that in 2006, at age 26, Mr Vastarelli received a diagnosis of Alport syndrome.

Several small details such as hearing problems and an eye procedure proved to be tell-tale signs, which a specialist recognized.

"I've always had hearing loss, and never knew why," he had said. And, Mr Vastarelli had eye surgery to correct the results of a condition that left his eyes feeling gritty.

"A couple of biopsies later," he learned he had the hereditary Alport syndrome, which according to alportsyndrome.org is an inherited disease of the kidney that can also affect the inner ear (cochlea) and eye. It is caused by genetic mutations that affect a collagen family of proteins. Collagen is a major part of important tissue membranes that are present in all tissues, including the kidney, inner ear, and eye.

Dialysis began in the summer of 2013. Mr Vastarelli is also on the organ donor waiting list through Yale-New Haven Hospital.

For the second time he is speaking about his experience.

"I would like to think that this raises awareness," he said February 9 of speaking with his hometown newspaper. "I did have a few e-mails after the first article, one from someone who had friends with a transplant, another who was interested in donating … but then wasn't sure she wanted to do it. I understand the apprehension."

During his first conversation with

He was looking at a wait of roughly two years on Yale's list - or so he thought that April.

In the last ten months, rules for the organ donor waiting list have changed. When he first went on list in 2012, he was looking at 4 to 4½ years of waiting for a match nationwide.

"Now there are more people able to go on the list and the timeframe is bumped to five to six years," he said. "I would have been a year away and now it's a year and a half to two years." He is not happy about an extended timeframe, he said, but there is nothing he can do, he added. He said he is "trying not to let it bother me too much."

Recently, Mr Vastarelli has been doing what he can to keep himself healthy.

"I've been at the gym a lot more to get in shape; I figure it's best to stack cards as much in my favor as possible," he said.

Mr Vastarelli feels fine, and is "probably healthier than I have ever been thanks to the gym. And exercise helps my heart rate and blood pressure, which are important for kidney patients." A patient can "get in trouble if their bodies can't flush fluids," he said, explaining that such an issue creates a strain on the heart and blood pressure.

Every three months he has an adequacy test "that measures how much dialysis I am getting or if the toxin levels rise and the numbers are good," he said.

Mr Vastarelli has also changed his approach to talking about the dialysis. Since August, when he says he "started getting back into shape - I got tired of awkward conversation." He changed an online profile to mention his condition as a way to let people know.

"No point being coy about it," he said.

The topic arose quickly when he met his girlfriend a few months ago.

"We were chatting, finding out about each other and I told her [about Alport's syndrome]. She said she had friends with kidney issues so she was not a stranger to it," he said. "It was comforting to me."

Mentioning another "really interesting thing," Mr Vastarelli said, "we were at party talking to her friend with the kidney issues - I learned that he has same disease that I do."

The man's kidneys had failed and he had a transplant, Mr Vastarelli said. The experience surprised him, he said.

"It's not a common issue, but it was nice to see someone with my disease and know they came out the other side," Mr Vastarelli said. "You would never know he had a transplant, he looked like a very healthy individual." The two spoke briefly, and "the things he told me were in line with what doctors are saying."

Yale has a donor referral line (866-925-3897), where anyone can inquire about being tested for a match to donate a kidney, Mr Vastarelli said. There are assessments, an appointment, a blood test work-up to check for a match, he said.

"If you're not match for the person you wanted, you could be a donor for someone else," he said.

Joyce Albert from the Yale-New Haven Hospital transplant office, says people can be an altruistic donor, which means they are tested as a match for anyone.

"There are a lot of people on our waiting list for donors. Also, we are always looking to educate people about the process," she said. Her office offers outreach and speaks with the public. "It's a great feeling for people to help others - we often get people who want to give back," she said.

Ms Albert is preparing for an upcoming fundraising event in March, working with Donate Life Connecticut.

According to

Ms Albert and her partner George Norden will be in a dance competition to help raise money for Donate Life, an organization focused on education about organ donation, she said.

"Donate Life Connecticut is dedicated to the purpose of public education and awareness for all Connecticut residents concerning the lifesaving benefits of organ and tissue donation and increasing the number of registered donors," according to the fundraising site.

The fundraiser is "another way to help," Ms Albert said. In a recent e-mail, she wrote, "We are also looking for silent auction items.

She can collect items "for the [dancer] you want to support," she said.

Silent auction items need to be delivered by March 7.

"Money raised is going to educate the public about organ donation. This is how patients on the wait list are supported," Ms Albert said.