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Oregon Man Begs for a Kidney Donor…on the Side of the Road

Jan. 23, 2013 7:27am Liz Klimas

Beggars holding a sign on the side of the road looking for a couple bucks are not an unusual sight. But a sign-toting man in Oregon was looking for something much more valuable than spare change — his sign reads “Need Kidney Donor.”

Earl Martinez of Oregon Searches for a Kidney Donation From a Stranger

Earl Martinez with his sign. (Photo: Facebook)

Earl Martinez, 28, told KOIN he was born with a genetic kidney disease called Alport Syndrome that rules out family members as donors. He has been on dialysis for 18 months and been waiting more than a year for a transplant.

Martinez says his insurance will cover all medical costs — on both his and the donor’s side.

Martinez explained on the Facebook page devoted to seeking out his kidney donation that he has a type O blood and can only accept a kidney from a person with that same blood type.

Watch the report:

And since his story has captured national attention, things are looking up for Martinez. There’s been an outpouring of offers and he wrote on his Facebook page that he can’t even keep up. One of his most recent messages says he now has two people being tested:

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Comments (10)

Mil-Dot
Posted on January 23, 2013 at 8:05am
The guy is so full of himself he thinks that it is a given that he DESERVES the kidney of someone else. Now, if he were a politician, he would be moved to the very front of the line, in front of all others, no matter how long they had been waiting.

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- SamIamTwo
  Posted on January 23, 2013 at 9:07am
  The wait time would kill him. He lives in a liberal state…a state that much like WA State has gone Obamacare before Obamacare became a term.
  
  Wait time just to see a physical therapist for back pain is TWO bloody months, by that time you may not need one…that is what they are banking on while you pay 600 bucks a month for HC.
  
  Besides he has the insurance to cover the donor’s operation and his operation.
  
  Report this comment
blanco5
Posted on January 23, 2013 at 7:51am
Poor guy. With osamacare, his age and contribution to the “greater good” wil be taken into consideration before a doctor can touch him—if there are any doctors left.

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soybomb315_II
Posted on January 23, 2013 at 7:40am
unfortunately, that great free market country called the USA has made it ILLEGAL for someone to financially compensate the organ donor. So instead, we have an organ donor system which relies solely on altruism…..The result is a severe ORGAN SHORTAGE

Iran is not a free market country but they allow organ donors to be financially compensated. And they dont have an organ shortage.

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- Zipit
  Posted on January 23, 2013 at 8:23am
  Really Soy! “Iran is not a free market country but they allow organ donors to be financially compensated. And they dont have an organ shortage.” And………..
  Half of them probably wander around without shoes, and live without electricity or plumbing. So what’s your point? Maybe you could move there, and they could sew a weenie on for ya!!!
  
  Report this comment
- soybomb315_II
  Posted on January 23, 2013 at 8:31am
  the point is simple – we have a stupid rule that does more harm than good. And it is contrary to freedom and free markets
  
  My post was not complicated. If you were confused by it, you should consider laying of the accusatory talk because you have a plank in your eye
  
  Report this comment
- Melika
  Posted on January 23, 2013 at 10:19am
  Are you just poking people or are you really that obtuse? Allowing people to be “compensated” opens up a whole new world of crime. You think it’s bad now with these drug addicts robbing people for their ipods? You have no idea how bad life is when you have to worry about being targeted for your body parts. And even if we pretend that isn’t a problem, people are stupid, especially people so desperate that they would sell their organs. Organ donation from a living human is not something to be taken lightly. There are a whole host of health issues related to giving up one of your organs, even if you have two. Someone in their 20′s can compensate, but by the time they are in their early 40′s, they are going to start having problems. A lot of these donors end up needing an organ. At best they are on drugs the better part of their lives to help compensate for the loss. It’s why doctors don’t like getting donor organs from people over 40. We have 2 kidneys for a reason – it’s not like a spare tire.
  
  Taking away the monetary “reward” solves a lot of problems. At minimum, it forces the donor to seriously consider the negative impacts of this decision on their life, rather than justifying their “sacrifice” for money. The “dearth” of available organs comes down simply to supply – there aren’t enough healthy young people dying whose organs CAN be used.
  
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Kara_ite
Posted on January 23, 2013 at 7:32am
This guy is very inventive. I surely hope he gets a good kidney and that the donor will also do great!

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Gonzo
Posted on January 23, 2013 at 7:31am
Once Obamacare kicks in, he will also need to beg for a doctor to perform the transplant.

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- SamIamTwo
  Posted on January 23, 2013 at 9:13am
  Truth be known, OR and WA state are way ahead on OCare…recall the comments by Obama with regard to Group Health Coop? He mentioned more than a few times.
  
  GHC commonly known as group death back in the 70s…but they did start up with no funds from the gov’t. I don’t think it can be done in today’s market.
  
  Report this comment

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