Desperate family takes out 27 billboards to find kidney donor for Calgary man

The family of a Calgary man has posted an appeal on more than two dozen billboards in and around the city in a desperate bid to find him a kidney donor.

Elaine Austinadmits it's an unconventional approach to finding a match for her son, Ryan Mclennan.

But the woman from Estevan, Sask., is willing to do whatever it takes: Mclennan'scurrent kidney is functioning at just six per cent.

Put up in early February, the black-and-yellow appeals on 27 billboards are hard to miss.

They feature a photo of the 42-year-old Calgary man and his wife, Shakina, along with his blood type which is Oand a phone number (403-971-6572).

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Mclennan'swas working as a mechanic when his kidneys began to fail about 15 years ago, leaving him unable to continue at the auto shop.

"They're not really sure what happened," Austin told CBC Radio'sCalgary Eyeopeneron Thursday. "The last report we had is that high blood pressure killed his kidneys."

Mclennan needed a new kidney to survive, so his mom stepped up anddonated one of hers.

But they knew that wouldn't be a permanent fix. The organ would eventually fail and he would need another transplant.

Fast forward to today and the family is again desperately searching for another living donor.

"I'm a very aggressive mom," said Austin.

Despite being unable to work as a mechanic,Mclennan has been able to continue using his knowledge over the years, having returned to school to become a teacher after his previous transplant.

Henow instructs the mechanics and auto body program at Father Lacombe High School in Calgary.

The idea for the billboards came from Mclennan's wife. The family also has decals with a similar message on the rear windows of their vehicles.

And they'vecreated a Facebook pageto spread the message farther.

Austin said Mclennan is on a transplant list but "that takes time" something the family may not have.

"We were at the hospital yesterday and he had a line put in because he has to start dialysis," she said.

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