A Dorchester couple, Donna and Bob Viau, have gone public in an effort to get a replacement kidney for their 25-year-old son Greer, who has been confronting renal failure from an unknown virus since a diagnosis in February.

In a letter sent to the Reporter entitled “Dear Dorchester Community & Friends,” Donna writes that Greer, “in disbelief at his rapid decline, sat on our couch and asked, ‘Mom, who is going to give me an organ out of their body to save my life?’”

Writing that she was fighting back tears and staying positive, she added: “It will happen! Since then, our families have been tested and no match has come to pass. We have been sharing and posting and getting the word out as best we can. Greer has had multiple emergency room visits and is on 11 hours of home dialysis every night. That is sustaining him while people wait for a transplant, but it is very hard on the body.

“It is so hard for us to grasp that this is reality. Despite our relentless efforts over the past four months, we are still looking for that living donor who may be a match for Greer.”

Describing herself as an advocating mom, Donna pleaded in the letter for people to consider getting tested and or else share information.  A kidney from a living donor, she noted, can last up to two times longer than one from a deceased donor. There is no list for living donorship, she said. “Someone would have to specifically come forward in his name.”

She cited facts from the National Kidney Foundation: Someone is added to the transplant list every 14 minutes.  On average, 5,000 patients die every year while waiting for a kidney transplant, while another 4,000 people became too sick to receive one.

Greer Viau is part of the Brigham and Women’s Transplant Program. If anyone is interested in seeing if they are medically qualified to donate, his mother wrote, they can go to his page – www.nkr.org/ATE793 – and click “looking to donate for Greer” and the National Kidney Registry will connect with potential donors to guide them through the process.

She signed the letter: “With loving gratitude, Donna, Bob, Greer, and Dylan Viau.”