Green River Star -

The day he was born, his parents knew he had a 50/50 chance of getting the disease. 

Jesse Laughter, a lifelong Green River resident, always knew he had a chance of getting polycystic kidney disease, which affects the kidneys and other organs. Clusters of cysts develop in the kidneys and interfere with the kidneys' ability to filter waste products from the blood. The continued growth of these cysts can lead to kidney failure.

"I found out and was diagnosed when I was 19 years old," Laughter said. "And then it was just kind of a waiting game."

Laughter said those who needed kidney transplan...