California woman ends yearslong search for kidney donor after posting sign on car

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Woman finds kidney donor by posting a sign on her car

California woman with a rare genetic blood disorder finds a kidney donor by posting a sign on the back of her car.

A California woman ended her yearslong search for a kidney donor after she posted a sign on her car in a desperate plea to find a match.

Teri Sampson, of Linda Vista, told FOX5 San Diego she was diagnosed with a rare genetic blood disorder that caused both her kidneys to fail. Sampson said she has B negative blood type, one that matches only 2 percent of Americans.

Two years ago, she decided to post a sign on the back of her vehicle hoping she would find a donor match.

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"It was absolutely desperate measures because I didn’t know what else to do," Sampson said. “I didn’t really think it was going to make a difference, and it’s what changed it all so."

She’s been hooked up to a dialysis machine every day since July 2017 to help her continue her daily activities. Sampson is scheduled to undergo her transplant surgery on Sept. 24. She added that she doesn’t know who her donor is.

"This total stranger that I don’t know is going to save my life, and, I mean, how wonderful is that?" she said. "It’s huge. If I can meet them and tell them how much their selfless gesture has completely restored my faith in all humanity -- it’s the most beautiful thing ever."

Sampson said finding a donor has been “surreal.”