HORACE LANGFORD JR. / PVT Musician and television personality Downtown Michael Brown has committed himself to helping Laura Newcomb, right, raised sufficient funds for medical procedures as her lone kidney is failing. Advertisement

Almost anyone who patronizes the Pahrump McDonald's has seen Laura Newcomb.

An employee at the restaurant for five years, the 42-year-old loves her work, and also loves playing darts at local establishments like the VFW post and Sullivan's.

Newcomb, however, was born with only one kidney instead of the normal pair, and that one organ, according to Carol Vocke, producer/director of "30 on 30 News" at Channels 30 and 62, has begun to fail.

Her family has undergone the required tests to see if a member can contribute one of his or her kidneys, but in the meantime her medical insurance from McDonald's has run out.

Sunrise Hospital in Las Vegas has released Newcomb to live with her parents here as time grows shorter.

"She desperately needs some financial help for the medical procedures," Vocke said. "She needs a stent put in her kidney now. Sunrise would not do the stent because her insurance ran out."

The family has applied for Social Security benefits, but receiving approval could take months and the stent procedure is needed as soon as possible.

An account to receive donations has been set up at Bank of America. The number of 005012550226.

At the same time, a fundraiser at Saddle West is being prepared for Nov. 4, with a variety of entertainment acts being rounded up.

"We will be running this story until we can get Laura back to what she loves most -- working the dining room at McDonald's and playing darts," Vocke said.

For more information, call Carol at 751-1600.