“I was very excited when I found out I was going to be part of the UAB Kidney Chain because I knew it was going to be a new day for me.
“I had been on dialysis for almost five years, and it was a struggle at first. But the good Lord helped me come through it, and now things are so much better. I still have to be careful, but I can go places now that I couldn’t go and take my time. I don’t have to worry about always feeling weak and having to go through dialysis three times a week, which is wonderful.
“I also met a very nice young man who was my donor, Lavuntae Lashley. He is a part of my life now, and we communicate regularly. He texted me on Father’s Day, and I usually call him and he calls me at least once a month.
“The first thing I always do is tell him how much I appreciate what he did for me, and then we go from there just talking. I’ll ask him how life is treating him. I tell him that I’m doing good. He tells me he is doing good. But I always tell him ‘thank you’ because he didn’t have to do what he did. I thank the Lord for touching his heart to do it.
“There is a lot of medicine you have to take, but it is for the best. And the doctors, nurses and staff at UAB Hospital were very good. If anyone is facing a transplant or thinking about becoming a donor, I would tell them not to be afraid because the folks at UAB really know what they are doing.”