Im hoping someone will step forward and keep my family close together, she [Mikes mother] says, trying to hold back tears. Theres not much of it left.

Mike Burns needs a kidney.

He has a genetic condition that caused him to be born with only one kidney. Diabetes has been wearing his body down for the past three years.

Its now at a point where I am eligible to be put on the transplant list, Mike, 41, says.

If Mikes kidney continues to deteriorate, he will need to undergo regular dialysis treatments.

The function of the kidney is to remove impurities from your body. When a person has kidney failure, he or she usually undergoes dialysis, also called hemodialysis. A dialysis machine is an artificial kidney that does the job that the bodys kidney would do if it were healthy and functioning properly. The blood is circulated through the machine, cleaned, and then returned to the body.

Two weeks prior to our interview, doctors put a fistula into Mikes arm. This is an access point for dialysis created by joining an artery to a vein. The purpose of this installation is to increase blood flow through the vein. It stretches and becomes stronger, causing the vein to increase in size. The fistula takes about three months to heal.

So, at this point, I still have some time, he says. Time before he begins dialysis, that is.

This kidney condition is something that has affected Mikes entire family. Both his sisters received kidney transplants about six years ago. One is doing well, however, the other, Kelly, passed away last fall.

She was severely mentally retarded from birth and so initially they only gave her about five years, and she lasted for 36, Mike explains.

Mike was not eligible for a kidney transplant at the time; therefore he couldnt receive either of her kidneys. Some of her organs, however, were donated to help those in need.

Mike has been taking care of his kidney since he was 12 years old. That kind of responsibility at such a young age isnt easy to swallow.

When youre a teenager, its like Oh my God, I have to take care of myself, he says.

But Mikes health hasnt stopped him from doing what he wants to.

Ive done a lot of things myself, says Mike. Ive worked overseas in Scotland and then I did some traveling after that.

Mike has spent years watching what he eats and constantly monitoring his condition, and he is surprisingly upbeat about the whole affair.

Sometimes you feel a little upset, he explains. But its just kind of one of those things, where you have it so long, you kind of get used to it.

Mike focuses on the positive, but isnt unrealistic.

You have to live and experience whats around you at the time, he says. But you do realize there is a point where conditions get worse, or hopefully stabilize, and youll have a fairly good 20 or 30 more years.

Since Mike is searching for a new kidney, and has spent his life with organ troubles, it is no surprise that he is a big supporter for organ donation. Stickers like Donate an Organ, Save a Life line the cash register area of the Sandburg Halls Emporium, which Mike has managed for nine years, along with Palm Gardens.

Despite his condition, he is determined to be an organ donor himself. Every time he goes to the DMV to renew his license, he attempts to persuade them to put the organ donor sticker on his license, and every time they turn him down.

When I asked them about it, they dont consider me a really good candidate, he says. But Ive argued. Ive said, Well my skin, as long as its [my death] not too disastrous, you can still use my skin. You can use my lungs, my heart,

While he has received less than positive feedback, Mike is not giving up.

Im hoping to change their mind on that, he says.

Mike also has a message for those who are skeptical of becoming donors.

If the worst should happen, says Mike, you have the ability to extend someone elses life.

A kidney, unlike many organs, can be taken from a living donor, and that donor can go on to have a normal, healthy life. The procedure can be done laparoscopically with a fairly small incision. The donor can be up moving around within a week, and back to a normal life within three to four weeks.

What would he say to someone who was interested in giving him a kidney?

Its a great gift, giving to someone like that, says Mike. Even if the kidney wasnt a match for him, Mike would want the donor to try to help someone else in need.

Before we parted ways “ I was to begin this story and Mike was to continue his quest for a kidney “ he left me with this message:

Consider putting a donor sticker on your license. Its a great gift.

The next day, I spoke to Mikes mother, Lorna Hager, just to fill in a few of the details that Mike left out. I asked her what message she had for all the potential donors who will read this.

Im hoping someone will step forward and keep my family close together, she says, trying to hold back tears. Theres not much of it left.

Mikes family is looking for someone to donate a kidney to Mike. If someone is genuinely interested in donating a kidney, he or she should contact Lorna Hager at (262) 534-7839 or (888) 313-6807. The medical costs of the donor, such as hospital stay and medications, are covered.

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