Updated at: 11/03/2009 11:26 AM | KSAX.com
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Wadena Teen in Desperate Need of a Kidney

WADENA, MN- Patrick Sibert is your run of the mill Minnesota teen. He likes sports, video games, and hanging out with friends. But he has one big problem, his kidneys are failing.

"I was born and one of my kidneys were already dead and one was injured or damaged. So then they found out they need a kidney transplant I think they found out when I was still in the womb, and my mom was a match so thats what they did so I got a kidney transplant at the age of one" explained Patrick.

"A lot of his friends didn't even know he ever had a transplant, so for 14 years it just went great. But then a year ago now, he got sick. The antibodies kind of got after his kidneys, so he's been in chronic renal failure for the past year" said his somber mother Laura Uselman.

The fact that his mother gave up her own kidney 14 years ago has become a gift and a curse for Patrick. It has been running well for 14 years, but during that time his body has been building up antibodies. This in turn makes it a much more difficult task to find another kidney match. There is a six percent chance of compatibility.

According to Patrick's family all of the support has been an overwhelming blessing. In total over 150 people have already been tested for the new transplant but so far there is still no match.

This is why Patrick needs your help. For more information you are urged to visit his website at www.kidneyforpatrick.com. Or you can contact Cathy Garvey at the University of Minnesota at 1-800-328-5465, just give her Patrick's name and birthday (2-24-94).

Written for the web by: Tony Seeman

aseeman@ksax.com