BARDSTOWN, Ky. — Nelson County’s E-911 director has given back to the community. Now, he’s the one who needs the community’s help – with something you can’t exactly see.

Nelson County emergency dispatchers always answer the call, often on the worst days of people’s lives. And by day, Shawn Gaither, is the man in charge of the department.

“I love it because it’s all about helping people.” said Shawn Gaither, Nelson County’s E-911 director.

What he does comes from the heart. He’s in a wheelchair, and is an amputee. Gaither also lives with diabetes, but he doesn’t let his physical circumstances stop him

“I don’t look at it as a way to say ‘Oh, I can’t do this because I don’t have a leg.' Well, not having a leg doesn’t stop me from driving.” Gaither said.

You see, 45-year-old Gaither lives with stage 4 kidney failure – which means he needs a new kidney.

For the past several weeks, Gaither’s wife Brooke has posted her husband’s story on social media groups.

They’re looking for someone special to help in his time of need.

“We don’t need a hero that wears a cape or a big 'S' on his chest.” said Brooke Gaither. “We need a kidney hero. We need someone that is a matching donor for my husband.”

If you drive around Bardstown, you’ll likely see a couple big signs like one that reads “Kidney Hero Needed.”

And they’ve gotten many responses. They said they've answer calls, texts and messages every day from Kentuckians who want to help.

They have even found some potential matches.

“It’s overwhelming in a very heartwarming, a very good-feeling way. I want to make contact with everyone that messages me, calls me, texts me.” said Brooke Gaither.

Shawn explained, “To the ones that are going through the process, we want to thank you from the bottom of our hearts."

On its website, Donate Life Kentucky said more than 1,000 Kentuckians are waiting for 1 of 6 organs, including kidneys. The Gaithers have a hope even for the people who don’t match with Shawn.

“What we are hoping is that just because you may not be a match for me, you could be a match for someone else. As my wife has said multiple times, we don’t want to lose those people just because they aren’t able to donate to me. We want them to be able to donate to someone.” Shawn Gaither explained.

So, for now, the Gaithers wait, hope and pray that soon, the call will come – that a life-saving kidney has found its way to this family.

Shawn Gaither said he’s looking forward to getting his prosthetic legs in the coming weeks.