Most of us have two kidneys, when all we need is one.

Craig Pederson, 33, a member of First Congregational UCC in Waukegan, Ill., has had three – and now he needs a fourth.

Craig was born with an underdeveloped solitary kidney. That one functioned fine for his first year of life, then kidney failure set in. When Craig was 12, his father donated one of his kidneys to his son. That kidney changed Craig's life. He went back to school, graduated from high school and took a part-time job. When this kidney gave out after 15 years, his mother donated one of hers. Again, Craig's life picked up.

Now his mother's donated kidney is failing, and Craig needs another one. Recently, a donor volunteered a kidney, but it wasn't a good match. Going on dialysis is a possibility, however his long term outcome would be better with another transplant – as would his quality of life. Already his kidney disease and the treatments for it have left him somewhat learning disabled and with minor physical limitations.

While his family and his church family wait and pray for a volunteer donor, Craig's life goes on. The highlight of his life is Luke, his long-haired standard dachshund. "Luke lives for Craig and Craig lives for Luke," says his mother. Craig works two hours a day as a maintenance man at a Banana Republic, and drives to work in his own truck. At home, he plays solitaire and other games on his computer, watches the Discovery Channel and Nickelodeon, and sleeps a lot.

For more information about donating one of your kidneys to Craig, you can contact Craig's parents, John and Mary Beth Pederson, at 847-244-9078 (home) or 847-650-9079 (cell), or email them at pederson.m@sbcglobal.net – or phone their pastor, the Rev. Chris Fox, at 847-778-6280 (cell). For general information, visit a medical center web site, such as this one from the University of Maryland Medical Center.