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The 51-year-old former truck driver has been suffering with increasingly bad health for the past two years. A diabetic for 20 years, Smith suffered a mild stroke in November 2006. One year later, he found out he was in N-stage renal failure -- kidney failure.

Then, two weeks before Christmas 2007, Smith's kidneys completely shut down. "He almost died," said Karen Smith, his wife of 32 years.

The past few years have been a nightmare for the Smiths, who were 17 when they married in Texas in 1976 while Marty served in the military.

Marty has not worked in two years and collected Social Security disability. Karen said they live payday to payday. Marty went from working 60-70 hours a week as a truck driver to doing virtually nothing as his illness progressed.

"We're just getting desperate," Karen said. It's a statement she repeats frequently throughout the interview.

Marty has kidney dialysis everyday at home while he waits for a kidney donor. In Michigan, Karen said those in need of a kidney may wait 5-7 years -- time Marty may not have.

"He's just getting so depressed lately and he knows the wait in Michigan is 5-7 years and he won't live that long," Karen said. "Imagine being married to somebody since you were 17 -- it's hard."

The Smiths are working with St. John's Hospital in Detroit. Transplant Coordinator Brenda Bergeron is helping to screen potential donors. Marty is on the transplant list the University of Toledo and hopes to soon get on the list the University of Wisconsin at Madison. "In Wisconsin, the wait is only two years or so," Karen said.

Marty's search for a kidney is complicated by the fact that he has rare O-positive blood. "Our four sons are not a match so we're just getting desperate," Karen said.

Marty has a cousin in Ubly who is a match, but through testing it was found she has a severe iron deficiency ruling her out as a potential donor.

The couple is hoping someone reading this article may have O-positive blood and be willing to be tested. Age, sex and race are not factors. The Smiths' insurance will cover the costs of the potential donor's tests to confirm they are O-positive. Prescription drugs will be used to make the confirmation and can be taken to a hospital or lab for testing. Bergeron will coordinate the needed tests and prescriptions. "Once they are confirmed O-positive, they will do further blood work for a tissue match," Karen said.

Karen said the kidney donor has an overnight stay in the hospital and will have to take it easy for three or four weeks before going back to a normal routine. "You can live perfectly normally with one kidney," Karen said. "The one remaining kidney will actually get bigger to make up for the one they lost."

While the best bet for a kidney donor is family, Karen said the medications Marty would take for the rest of his life would guard against rejection of the donated kidney.

The Smiths lived in Brown City for 25 years. They had a farm, but because of upkeep, moved to Marlette in February to an apartment across the street from Marlette Regional Hospital where Karen works in nutrition services. "It's close to work and if there is an emergency with Marty, I can be there," Karen said.

The couple finds solace in their sons, all graduates of Brown City High School: Matthew, in 1996 and now living in Port Huron; Jeremy in 1999 now in the military, Adam in 2000 now living in New Haven, and Ryan in 2006. Ryan is the junior varsity football coach for Brown City schools. He lives at home and helps his parents. "He quit college to help me take care of his dad," Karen said.

Karen said they are hoping for a Christmas miracle while Marty fights to stay alive. "He definitely wants to get a kidney and he wants to go back to work because he's knows it's been hard on me."

If you have O-positive blood and would be willing to be tested as a potential kidney donor for Marty, contact Bergeron at St. John's Hospital in Detroit, (313) 343-7470 or her Grand Blanc office, (810) 606-7990.