I am a Diabetic with a unique story.  My story does not come from a textbook and the content of my story is real.  I will not bore you with statistics; however I will tell you of my life altering experiences and that through these experiences, I have several disabilities, but I am ALIVE.

You may hear my story and feel sorry for me, don’t, because I don’t feel sorry for myself...my story has inspired me to share my experiences with you.

My story begins with a diagnosis of Juvenile Diabetes at the age of 12.  Did I understand this diagnosis?  No.  Did I do research, the answer is no. All I know what I was told...that my life would change dramatically.  I was given pamphlets, diet sheets, etc. and there were so many don’ts and can’t haves that I rebelled.  I was told that it was important to take my insulin every day...did I?  No, I took it occasionally, and sometimes I went days without taking my insulin at all.  Against my doctor’s advice I ate whatever and whenever.  Everything that my doctor told me not to do, I did, never once stopping to think of the consequences that I would surely experience in a matter of time.  At the age of 16, I remember my doctor's  haunting words telling me "that the way I take care of myself for the next ten years would determine the quality of the rest of my life”.  Powerful words, but the words lacked any meaning to me at all.  I continued to defy my doctor's orders.  It did not take 10 years but 12.  On my 28, birthday I was completely blind in both eyes and for the next 18 months I had a date with Dialysis.

The diabetes deterioration became worse and on October 17, 1991 I became the third person in South Carolina to undergo a dual organ transplant.  This dual transplant consisted of transplanting my kidney and pancreas, two major and vital organs.  This transplant was listed as experimental, because a pancreas had never been transplanted before.  I went into this experimental procedure with high hopes of it changing my life, my everything...to my surprising disappointment, the pancreas had to be removed from my body immediately as it had been rejected by my body.  My family and I were told after the complications that the transplanted pancreas had not received sufficient blood.  This setback sent me to intensive care and for the next three weeks, I was in and out of consciousness and needed a respirator to breathe.

Some days I think of the many setbacks that I have endured over the last 17 years of my life...my kidney lasted 4 years after the dual transplant, then rejected.  I spent 4 more long years on dialysis, waiting for another organ and in 1999 I received my second kidney.  On February 17, 2001 I finally received another pancreas and have not had to take any insulin since.  I have had so many operations in between; I do not have enough paper to list them all.  After surviving all of this, how could I feel sorry for myself?  I can’t, God's Mercy was all over me, He never left me nor did He ever forsake me.  My story is not only my story of the diabetes complications, but it is my life’s testimony.

When I went through with my dual organ transplant, I was told that all together, including myself there were nine participants.  Six months ago I was told to my surprise that all eight participants were deceased, I was the only living participant alive.  I began to immediately realize that my purpose in life should be to motivate and inspire by telling the world of this ravenous and deadly disease, Diabetes.

Diabetes does not discriminate against any race, creed or sex...everyone is vulnerable.  I know the things that you have heard sound grim, and questions may be circling around in your heads.  Always remember that Diabetes respects no one, and it can be deadly if not controlled and guidelines followed.

My ultimate goal is to not allow anyone to have to follow in my footsteps and to educate and inform others of what a vital, and precious gift of life an organ transplant is.  Without the numerous transplants that I received, due to the families unselfishly permitting their loved ones to become donors, I would not be alive today.

Remember we are placed upon this earth to do God’s work for our fellow mankind; we are all vessels for God.