Teacher turns to Facebook for kidney donor

A Connecticut man with kidney disease says he has created a Facebook page designed to find a donor willing to offer a life-saving kidney. Brad Vernet, 48, a Groton, Conn., elementary school science teacher born with only one kidney, learned Sept. 13 his kidney function was down to 14 percent, just above the threshold for dialysis treatment, ABC News reported. "If you want to get the word out (about the need for a donor), you have to be an advocate for yourself," he said. His "Help Find Brad a Kidney" Facebook page has received messages of support from strangers with their own health stories and offers of help. He says he refers potential matches to Boston's Brigham and Women's Hospital. "I'm grateful that the response has been so strong, and that really gives me a lot of hope and comfort," Vernet said.