Social media hopes to answer Delco family's plea for kidney transplant

MEDIA, Pa. (WPVI) -- Jacqueline Heiden of Media, Delaware County has been in need of a kidney transplant since 2014.

She is on a waiting list, but her O-positive blood makes finding a match a real challenge.

So, for now, she needs dialysis treatment every single day.

"I go on the machine every night for 9.5 hours while I sleep and it takes fluids in and out of my body, cleaning it, taking the toxins out," Heiden said.

Two years have passed, no one in the family is a match and so the wait continues.

As you would imagine, Jacqueline's family has grown increasingly anxious.

"We were just like we have to try something. We really need to be proactive and get the word out there," Heiden said.

Then recently Jacqueline's mother, Michelle Craig, came up with a great idea.

She started painting signs on the back of the family vehicles saying "Please help my daughter, needs a kidney, blood Type O."

"I feel like I am being able to get the word out you know more I'm always in my car. I just thought it was a good idea because someone is always behind you," Craig said.

The traveling signs produced a few phone calls, but their efforts really started to gain traction after Action News sports anchor Jamie Apody saw the sign on a blog and then reposted the photos on Facebook.

"It was up to what 16,000 shares or something now. It's amazing. I've gotten calls and I'm responding as fast as I can," Heiden said.

But this story remains unfinished.

Despite the recent influx of interest in her situation, the search for a kidney donor match continues.

Still, Jacqueline says she is optimistic that what started as a simple sign on a vehicle window will have a happy ending.

"I am comfortable. I am managing, but as far as surgery for transplant, I'm terrified, but I am ready," Heiden said.