Friends, family, former students rally around longtime Cranston teacher in need of kidney

May 2, 2018 5:51 pm

By Alana Cerrone

acerrone@abc6.com

@Alana_Cerrone

CRANSTON, R.I. (WLNE) – Even when Dean Fish isn’t actively looking for a kidney donor for his wife Paula – he actually is. That’s because he’s a walking and driving billboard.

So is their son. And their friends.

In fact, hundreds of these t-shirts have made their way across the country.

Both of Paula Fish’s kidneys have failed due to a genetic disease. Her dad died from it when she was young.

Because of her blood type, type O, a compatible donor is hard to come by.

But after teaching in Cranston for 30 years, Fish got to know a lot of students. Years later, they’re paying her back, along with friends and family who have spread her message through flyers, car decals, and t-shirts.

Fish could be on the donor waitlist for years, but her kidneys are only functioning at about 13%. Her friends and family haven’t been matches. So the person who could save her life will be a total stranger.