SHEBOYGAN — A Sheboygan woman is taking a unique approach to finding an organ donor.
37-year-old Amanda Boor is the woman behind a dark red SUV covered in paint and pleading for a kidney.
"I've had a couple of bites but nothing yet," said Boor.
She explained how she got the idea to broadcast her request from a worker at the Davita Center where she was going for dialysis.
In 2015, Amanda suffered a stroke. It aggravated an autoimmune disease that had already been attacking her kidneys for years.
The damage put her on dialysis.
"It's an everyday thing and I do it overnight while I sleep," Boor said.
One wall of her bedroom is covered with boxes of liquids and medical equipment she needs for her at-home dialysis.
"It can be very draining, but you know I just have to stay positive and know it’s gonna happen it’s just a matter of when," said Boor.
The National Kidney Foundation of Wisconsin says 1,822 people are waiting for an organ donation in the state. 1,437 of those people are waiting for a kidney.
But Amanda is trying to speed up the waiting process so she can be a better mom to her 11-year-old daughter Gabrielle.
"I want to be there for her. I know what it's like to lose your parents, so she's young and I don't want her to have this be her memory of me," said Boor.
"I just want her to have a better life for her daughter also. I know how tired she is and how much this gets her down. It’s really hard on a person so I see that. I see her struggle so it hurts me," said Boor's aunt Jacqueline Lillesand.
Despite having her SUV painted for months, Amanda has yet to find a good match.
But, she remains hopeful.
"It would mean everything to get a kidney. I've had a rough go for the past couple years I'd really like to be 2020 the year where the magic happens," said Boor.
If you would like to help Amanda call 813-KIDNEYS. You'll reach Amanda who will work with you on the next steps to find out if there is a match.
