Family Turns To Craigslist, YouTube To Find Kidney Donor
PASADENA (CBSLA.com) — A family in Pasadena is turning to the internet to find a life-saving kidney for their daughter.
Jenna Franks was just 15 when she was diagnosed with kidney failure and 18 when she began dialysis.
Her mother, Karol Franks, began moderating forums on dialysis and organ donation. She credits one post with helping her to find Patrice Smith, a woman in Ohio who contacted her wanting to donate her kidney to Jenna.
The 26-year-old's body is now rejecting the organ. And now Karol is taking to Craigslist and YouTube to help her daughter find another donor.
"Jenna would never ask for a kidney for herself, I know she wouldn't... but I can ask for her," the mother told CBS2's Amy Johnson.
"We seem to be more comfortable reaching out when you can type what you are saying or edit it and review it I guess," she said.
Jenna's father admits he was skeptical at first. After the family met Patrice, he's supporting his wife's unorthodox efforts to find their daughter another kidney.
"It took a lot of persuading to get me on board with this thing. Thank God she did because we got a living donor and it was a miracle," he said.
Jenna did not speak to CBS2 but in a YouTube video entitled Are You My Type, she talks about how thankful she is to have her parents supporting her through the ordeal.
"For something like this you realize just how committed she is to my health and well-being. I am very grateful to her for that," she said.
The family said they have received hundreds of responses but a match has yet to be found.
No one in the family can donate their kidney to Jenna, including her mother.
Karol Franks said she is committed to continuing the search until they find a match.
"It is hard not to give her the one thing I know she needs. As a mother you would give your right arm if it would save them. So this is what I can do," she said.
Jenna is scheduled to begin dialysis again in June.
More information about living donation is available at Living Donors Online.
