TEXARKANA, Ark. – A Texarkana girl acquired a kidney two years in the past, and now she’s working to encourage others to change into organ donors.

Barbara Pitts Riley says her new kidney has given her a brand new lease on life, and much more alternatives to serve others.

“There are such a lot of lives which are on maintain proper now, ready for somebody to make that organ donation or tissue donation,” defined Riley.

On June 19, 2020, Riley acquired a kidney donation from Florida.

The transplant surgical procedure was carried out at UAMS in Little Rock.

She says the transplant has given her extra the liberty to not solely advocate on behalf of organ donation, but additionally serve others by means of a number of mission journeys oversees.

Earlier than receiving the donor match, Riley had been dwelling with renal failure for 22 years and was on dialysis for 5 years.

“The standard of life wasn’t nice, however I labored with what I had. I by no means gave up. I had a variety of near-death experiences, however I made it by means of. I’ve a function but to be fulfilled,” stated Riley.

Riley says she’s proof that one organ donation has the ability to alter lives, and he or she hopes others will take into account signing as much as give the reward of life.

One deceased organ donor can save as much as eight lives.

Statistics present each 9 minutes somebody is added to the transplant ready checklist.

At the moment, greater than 105,000 persons are on that ready checklist within the U.S.

For extra data on easy methods to change into an organ donor, go to donatelifearkansas.org.