BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) -- Becoming an organ donor is one way to help give the gift of life. That's the message being spread throughout this week's 2024 Transplant Games.
Two-time liver transplant recipient and participant in the 2024 Transplant Games Barney Nelson, said the first step to become an organ donor is to say 'yes.' Doing so can help save more lives than you think
"Without my donor you know I wouldn't be around right now. I've got four beautiful kids that came after the transplantation after I received my liver," said Barney. "So, I have four kids that have a dad that is able to wake up and play with them, and when I get home from work, they get to jump up in my arms. I get to hold them and hug them which is made possible because of that gift from my donor."
Nelson is just one of millions of transplant recipients. Denise Redeker is another transplant recipient.
"I received my new heart six and a half years ago after 25 plus years of being in heart failure. My body was fighting to stay alive while my heart was trying to die," said Redeker.
Two different transplant recipients with two different journeys, spreading the same message.
"One act of saying yes to being an organ donor is it creates a ripple that just extends out past whatever you can possibly imagine," said Redeker.
Ann Rayburn, with Legacy of Hope, is spreading that same message.
"It is so simply to register. You can do it on your phone, you can do it if you have an iPhone, you can do it through your health app, but if you go to LegacyofHope.org and it'll take about 30 seconds and you might save somebody's life," said Rayburn.
Rayburn said in Alabama 10,000 - 12,000 people register every month to become a donor.
Rayburn encourages even more people to research if they're interested in becoming a donor.