NEW ALBANY, Ind. — A sign in New Albany is catching drivers attention as a desperate family asks the community to donate a kidney.
Sherrie Perkins, the Charlestown woman seeking the kidney, says she hopes the sign will save for life.
As a lifelong type one diabetic, the issues began for Perkins in 2021, after contracting salmonella
"With the combination of the Salmonella poisoning and getting extremely dehydrated, my kidneys just couldn't handle that," she said.
Doctors removed her right kidney in 2022.
"My kidney transplant team say [I'm] going to need a transplant and [I'm] going to need it soon," Perkins said
If you're interested in being a donor, you can give the family a call at (812) 256-1218.
While family members like her dad, Hazel, and husband, Dan, want to help, they can't for health reasons.
"Any way I could do [help], I'd get it done," Hazel Smith Moyers, her dad, said. "If I was young enough to do it she'd have one of mine."
Her husband Dan Perkins, a type two diabetic, said doctors told him he's ineligible to donate a kidney because of his condition.
"It's just something I wish I could take away for her," he said. "Honestly your options are kind of limited once you get to a certain point."
So Sherrie is turning her attention to strangers driving down a stretch of Charlestown Road, hoping the sign can touch their heart enough, to pick up the phone.
The couple put a second sign up closer to Seymour, Ind. They said they've received six calls so far but no official matches just yet.
"There is no substitute for a kidney. You know? Either get one or death," Dan Perkins said.
While the family admits the matching process may be long and tedious, they say its also free and can completely alter someone's life for the better.
If I didn't get a match from that but it would save someone else's life, I would be ecstatic over that," Sherrie Perkins said. "I'm hoping I'll get a match from it but if it saves somebody else's life, I'll be so happy over that."
But that won change her condition either -- at this point she says it's gotten so bad, she can't work nor drive anymore.
"They say misery loves company but I say it loves a happy ending," she said. "I'm hoping this is going to be a happy ending."
The procedure would likely take place in Indianapolis at IU health and costs would be completely covered by DonorShield.
If you're looking to help the family, or looking for more information on becoming an organ donor, you can call IU Health at (317) 944-4370 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
►Contact reporter Connor Steffen at csteffen@whas11.com or on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.
►Make it easy to keep up-to-date with more stories like this. Download the WHAS11 News app now. For Apple or Android users.
Have a news tip? Email assign@whas11.com, or visit our Facebook page or Twitter feed.
RELATED VIDEO