GREENWICH, Conn., Oct. 26, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The Nutcracker Syndrome Association and the National Kidney Registry are partnering to raise awareness about Nutcracker Syndrome, establish December 18 as Nutcracker Awareness Day, and launch an awareness campaign. Nutcracker Syndrome is a vascular condition in which the left renal vein becomes compressed, potentially affecting kidney function and causing significant, life-altering symptoms.

“Nutcracker Syndrome is a debilitating condition that is often difficult to recognize and diagnose,” said LJ Dong, director of patient advocacy at the Nutcracker Syndrome Association and a donor mentor at the National Kidney Registry. “Raising awareness about Nutcracker Syndrome will allow those who suffer from it to be seen, heard, understood, and find the best treatment possible. The silver lining with Nutcracker Syndrome is that if the removal of a kidney is the recommended treatment, it can very often be donated to a patient in need, bringing relief to one person and better health to another.”

In a nod to the syndrome’s name, December 18, 2026, will be the first Nutcracker Syndrome Awareness Day, commemorating the debut of Tchaikovsky’s ballet The Nutcracker. The awareness campaign includes a digital education program, partnerships with ballet companies to share information, and a worldwide candle-lighting moment on December 18. Learn more about the campaign here. 

Earlier this year, NKR launched the Nutcracker Care Network, a national collaboration of leading transplant centers dedicated to advancing awareness, treatment, and support for patients living with Nutcracker Syndrome.

“The NKR’s focus on patient health drives us to raise awareness of Nutcracker Syndrome, expand access to experts who can evaluate the condition, and help patients find relief while providing a pathway to those who qualify to become living donors,” said Garet Hil, founder and CEO of the National Kidney Registry.

Learn more about how NKR supports living kidney donation for individuals with Nutcracker Syndrome.

About the National Kidney Registry

The National Kidney Registry (www.kidneyregistry.com) is an organization whose mission is to save and improve the lives of people facing kidney failure by increasing the quality, speed, and number of living donor transplants while protecting all living donors.

About the Nutcracker Syndrome Association

The Nutcracker Syndrome Association is a community-led organization dedicated to advancing awareness, education, advocacy, and support for people affected by Nutcracker Syndrome.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-nutcracker-syndrome-association-and-the-national-kidney-registry-partner-to-raise-awareness-of-nutcracker-syndrome-302919442.html

SOURCE National Kidney Registry