Hudson Man with Failing Kidneys Takes Out Ad for Donor

Hudson Man with Failing Kidneys Takes Out Ad for Donor
Last Edited: Sunday, 02 Nov 2008, 10:15 PM CST

HUDSON, Wis. -- His kidneys no longer function, and doctors have told him he is too old to wait for a donor. So a Hudson, Wis. man is taking matters into his own hands. He took out an ad in the classifieds for a new kidney.

Video: Needs a Kidney

For 77-year-old Wayne Hansen, the prognosis is dark. Without a new kidney, he will have to spend the rest of his life undergoing dialysis.

"I do it three days a week -- Monday, Wednesday, Friday. I am on a machine for three hours. It takes my blood... washes it... and then returns it into my body," says Hansen.

It takes the average patient between five and seven years to get matched with a cadaver kidney. And doctors have told Hansen that is too long to wait.

Hansen is of O blood type. Wayne's wife Betty is not a match, and neither is anyone in his family. So the couple has broadened their search.

They are running a personal ad in the Hudson Star-Observer, pleading to any potential matches to donate a healthy kidney. The Hansen's know it won't be easy, but they hope someone will step forward.

"Whenever you ask for an organ to keep you alive, of course you would be desperate. I mean we are not asking for a necklace. It's a different kind of prayer. We are asking for life."

The Hansen's ask that anyone interested contact the University of Minnesota Hospital at 612-625-5115 ext. 581.

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