The State - News from April 9, 1987

A Contra Costa County woman said she wants to sell one of her kidneys to buy a motor home and put her daughter and grandson through college. Casey Patterson, 43, of Alamo, a widow who works as a live-in nanny, said she got three responses to her advertisement proposing to sell the organ: Two hate letters and an offer of $12,000. But that was not enough money. Patterson explained that she needs at least $25,000--plus medical expenses. “I’m just trying to take care of me and mine,” she said. Linda Boscono, manager of the National Kidney Foundation’s Northern California office in Burlingame, said it would be illegal for Patterson to sell a kidney. “It’s possible she may even get away with it,” Boscono said. “But it is still illegal.”