Evelyn Greene is, by all accounts, the type of person and the type of friend who would do anything for somebody who needed help.

Now she needs help herself – a new kidney to be exact.

Greene has developed acute renal failure stemming from her diabetes, which has progressed significantly to a point where she needs dialysis treatments multiple times a week. Soon she will have to have the machine moved to her house, and she will be reliant on consistent treatments.

Prior to her health decline, Greene had been caring for her elderly mother, Luz, and her brother, Albert, who has schizophrenia, in her home. When her mother passed in August and her health took a turn for the worse, she had to find a group care facility for her brother as well. Now it is her and her husband, Vietnam veteran Kenneth – who is battling his own health issues – trying to get by.

Greene is particularly active at St. Benedicts Church, where she loved to participate in the SPRED program, which is a class that helps those with special education needs religious teachings and values. Even through her worsening health, Greene tried to continue going to the SPRED classes until she physically couldn’t anymore.

“She's a great, great person,” said Marie Wilson, who met Greene through SPRED. “She's great at interacting with other people. She's always there to help, anytime you need help she'd be right there. She's been sick for a long time and even though she was feeling sick she'd always be there trying to help. She's a woman who was always right there for you.”

Greene’s best friend Lynn Robertson sought to spread the word about Evelyn’s plight, hopeful that somebody might notice and help find a donor match. Anybody who has or knows somebody who has Type O blood should contact Sarah Gibb, donor coordinator at Rhode Island Hospital, at 401-444-3091.

Evelyn, personally, never would have asked for this piece to be written. She’s used to lending the helping hand, not accepting one. She was flattered to learn that Robertson had even reached out to the Beacon to try to bring attention to her situation.

“Even if nothing comes of it, it’s amazing that it was even done for me,” she said.