KLAS-TV Channel 8 News Las VegasBaby's Website Stirs Controversy

Baby's Website Stirs Controversy

(Aug. 25) -- A Henderson couple's newborn came into the world in need of an organ transplant. The family has turned to the Internet to help find a donor more quickly. In doing so, they may have unknowingly found themselves in the middle of controversy.

Mark Riccioardi, Jr. is just 3 months old. He was born with a condition known as short gut syndrome. His small intestine was basically dead and was removed shortly after birth. If he is to survive past his birthday, he will need a new small intestine and a new liver.

"Everyone has to work like clockwork and we hope and pray that it does. When you have a good team of professionals and a strong organ donor network, which I think our country has, it's getting better, we're feeling optimistic," said Mark Riccioardi.

The Riccioardi's have created a website to promote awareness. But many organ donor advocates believe that advertising for an organ donation is unfair to those who are on a list and do not have the same level of resources.

Mark does not believe -- in this case -- that any lines are being crossed. "We feel, and the reason we did Mark Jr.'s website and the reason we're going public, is to say our existing organ donor system is a good system. What we need are people to be more aware of it. More aware of how they can donate organs. We're not looking for any special directed donations for us. We just want everyone who needs an organ to get one faster."

Mark, Jr. is among the 85,000 Americans currently waiting for a life-saving organ donation.

Ken Richardson, with the Nevada Donor Network, says this case in particular is a tough one, but not impossible. "And then when you start narrowing that potential donor pool down to that size and blood type, there's always hope and we do see a fair number of cases. But it's a difficult situation."

Richardson says there are mixed feelings throughout the donor network about the various methods of advertising for donors. But he says that if ads cause more people to consider donating -- then perhaps many more lives can be saved.