FARR WEST, UT (KSTU/CNN) – A 74-year-old man in Utah hopes to add time to his life’s wife by finding her a kidney match while encouraging people to donate to others.
Wayne Winters found the love of his life, Deanne, 26 years ago, but his wife now has stage 5 kidney failure and is on dialysis.
“She doesn't like it. It's horrible,” Winters said. "It's really hard today. This is the worst I've ever seen her."
Winters says he felt helpless watching Deanne suffer, so he decided to find her a kidney himself by hitting the streets in a new suit and shoes.
Walking busy streets near his home in Farr West, UT, Winters carries a sandwich board with red letters that spell out a plea for his wife. He chose the board after seeing a story online about another man who did the same thing and got national attention.
Winters says after just a few days of walking, he’s already overwhelmed by how many people want to help.
“I feel like I’m doing the right thing. It feels good being out here. When people pull over and talk to you, you are so elated,” Winters said.
On his first day, he had a man stop saying he would see if he was a match for Deanne.
"I says, ‘Deanne, I think we have a good chance of getting you a kidney,’” Winters said.
But until he knows for sure, Winters says he will keep searching.
"After I get a kidney, I will have my wife back the way she was normally, helping people, loving people,” Winters said.
Winters knows finding a match isn’t an easy process, and when he gets a donor for his wife, he says he won’t stop trying to get people to donate kidneys. He considers it his life mission.
For more information about donating a kidney, visit kidney.org. To help Winters with his efforts, call 801-675-0278.
Copyright 2017 KSTU, Wayne Winters via CNN. All rights reserved.
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