"I had a kidney and pancreas transplant here at UAB in 2004 due to diabetes. My first transplant was from a cadaver. My pancreas is still doing great, but my kidney started going bad on me earlier this year. No one really knows why it started going bad, but it did.
"I went back on dialysis at the beginning of May, so I was only on dialysis for four months this time. I was on dialysis for six months before my first transplant 10 years ago. I know that’s not really a long time to be on dialysis, so I’ve been pretty fortunate.
"Because of my previous transplant, I was a little more difficult to transplant this time. The surgeons had to take my previously transplanted kidney out prior to this transplant.
"I’ve done pretty well over the past 10 years. I have some vision problems; diabetes messed up my eyesight in my right eye. I have pretty good vision in my left eye, but I have occasional floaters. But by and large, I’ve been able to live a pretty normal life, get to hunt and fish and spend time with my grandkids.
"I hope to get back to where I was before I got sick back in January when my kidneys started failing again. I was enjoying life, and I hope to do so again.
"I don’t always feel great, but I know it beats the alternative. I know it could be a whole lot worse.
"When I think about my brother-in-law Robert and what he has done for me, it’s awesome. It’s awesome for anyone to do what he has done. It’s giving me another chance to live.
"It’s really pretty great to be able to be a part of this UAB kidney chain. I got to meet my donor, and it was emotional, but good. It was good to hear her story and meet her. I just know I’m forever grateful to her for what she did."
James Oliver - 26
"I got to meet my donor, and it was emotional, but good. It was good to hear her story and meet her. I just know I’m forever grateful to her for what she did."