New York: Matt Fulgieri’s wedding’s scheduling saved his life. The sales manager, Rick Bellando, of a Long Island banquet hall donated his kidney to Fulgieri, one of his former customers.    

On Nov. 6, Fulgiri, 42, successfully received the kidney transplant from Bellando, 42.

When Fulgieri was booking his wedding in 2002 at the Oheka Castle in Huntington, he met Bellando and both become friends.

Fulgeiri was suffering from polycystic kidney disease, a genetic disorder which also caused death of his mother, grandmother and brother. He needed a kidney to survive by year’s end. Bellando served as a perfect donor and saved Fulgieri’s life.

“I’m so thankful,” said Fulgeiri expressing his gratitude towards Bellando.

“He didn’t just save me, he saved my boys from not having a father as they grow up and my wife from not having a husband,” he added.

While Bellando revealed, “I had three little girls and he didn’t want me to get tested. He didn't want anyone with children to do it.”

Now, both Fulgieri and Bellando are back at their work.