74-Year-Old Utah Man Walks the Streets Searching For a Kidney Donor For His Wife

Bryan Michalek | October 20, 2017
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A 74-year-old man from Utah has been walking for miles a day searching for a donor to provide a life-saving kidney for his ailing wife. 

Wayne Winters has been walking around high-traffic streets near his home in Farr West trying to find a suitable donor for his ailing wife, who was diagnosed with stage 5 kidney failure. Only a few days ago did he start to get some attention from members of his town, as well as the online community. 

Speaking with Fox13, Winters said simply, "I'm trying to get a kidney for my wife."

"My wife has stage 5 kidney failure. She's on dialysis and she doesn't like it, it's horrible." he explained.

Wearing a suit, a hat and a sandwich board that reads "Need Kidney A- 4 Wife 675-0278," Winters says he hopes that a suitable donor might try to contact him. 

The Utahian got the idea after reading a story online about another man that had done something similar. He then bought a brand new suit and started walking. He told Fox13 that rush hour is his favorite time and that he walks up and down busy streets in order to get maximum visibility. 

"I don't walk real fast," he admits.

Winters noted that on his first day, a man stopped to say he would check to see if he was a match for Winters' wife. Winters said he went home that night to tell his wife Deanne the good news, but never heard from the man again.

Luckily for Deanne, her husband remains determined and says he'll continue his search until his wife is healthy again.

"After I get a kidney I will have my wife back the way she was, normal, helping people, loving people. She likes to serve other people," Winters said. 

He told Fox13 that he's been overwhelmed by all the support and decided that even after he gets his wife a kidney, he will make it his life's mission to continue finding donors for others in need.

If you would like to find more information about kidney donation you can visit the National Kidney Foundation website and if you would like to contact Mr. Winters you can call 801-675-0278. 

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