Teammates on the field, former Cowboys Everson Walls and Ron Springs are suiting up for the most important game of their lives. Walls donated a kidney to save his friend. Recipient Ron Springs said back in February, "Everson has come through for me, and I know I would do the same thing for him." They also hope to help others understand the desperate need for more minority organ donors. Just days after the surgery, Walls told the media, "We've always been great friends, but I think we can inspire some other people." Even though community awareness campaigns have made a huge difference in donations over the last 20 years. Dr. Clive Callender, an organ donor advocate points out, "We've doubled the number of minority donations." It's still nowhere near enough. Dr. Callender said, "We as minorities comprise only 25 percent of the population, but yet on waiting lists we comprise more than 50 percent of those who are waiting." Those are the numbers...then, there is the reality. Ted Walker, now awaiting a kidney transplant, said, "I was kind of lost." Walker was rushed to the hospital a year and a half ago, diabetes had led to kidney failure. "I was in shock. The first thing is I realized I needed a transplant." remembered Walker. Like thousands across the country, he's still waiting. "The waiting list is almost 2, 2 and a half, maybe 3 years." But there is hope. Demeatress Mitchell, who's daughter received a transplant, said, "Words cannot express how I feel about her getting an organ." 6-year-old Destiny Mitchell is living proof that the stepped up program is working. She received a life-saving live transplant when she was just 1. Now 6-years-old, she's the cover girl for a donation awareness campaign in North Carolina. But Destiny's mother is quick to point out, "It's all ages that need them, all races." It's so important, it literally could mean the difference between life and death. For more information about organ donations, you can go to the Donate Life website by clicking on this link:
www.donatelife.net
