LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The month of April recognizes and celebrates people who give or receive the gift of life.
It's officially National Donate Life Month and organizations across Kentucky and southern Indiana are raising awareness on how it only takes one person to change the lives of many.
Kentucky Army veteran Kevin Riehle was given a second chance after experiencing kidney failure from diabetes complications.
You may see him walking around west Louisville's Goodwill Opportunity Center because he works for Volunteers of America Mid-States. But if it wasn't for a kind comrade, things could've been different for him.
Five years ago, Kevin received a life saving kidney transplant from another military veteran.
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"Her name is Tammy Oprish," Riehle said. "Her and her husband live in Vine Grove, Kentucky. When she saw I was a veteran, and her and her husband are also veterans themselves, she said, 'I got to do this I was meant to do this.'
Brooks-Oprish forever changed the lives of Riehle and his wife Melody.
"To know that there is that kind of kindness and generosity out there it's overwhelming," Riehle said. "It's hope for the people who are on the transplant list. I mean these are people who are, they're feeling bad, they're sick, they're unable to do the things that normal people can do because of their health conditions."
According to Donate Life Kentucky, one registered organ donor can save the lives of up to eight people, restore sight to two people and heal the lives of up to 75 people. Every eight minutes, another person is added to the wait list for an organ donation, and 16 people die each day while waiting for a transplant. Just within the state of Kentucky, on average, there are approximately 1,000 individuals in need of an organ transplant.
"People like Kevin are waiting so when all of us register as a donor when we get our driver's license or just jump online and do it, it changes lives," Shelley Snyder, the executive director at Donate Life KY, said.
There are no age or medical questions preventing anyone from becoming a donor and bringing the fire back into someone's life.
"Everyone can register and it takes less than 30 seconds," Snyder said.
For Riehle, every second counts as it's not just his life that a live organ donor changed.
"All the people who I help, even here at work, she's a part of that," Riehle said. "It's all because of her. We got the call to foster two girls. We said yes, they've been with us and we are now within about a month to hopefully, in a month and a half to two months, of finalizing the adoption process."
A moment in his life that he'll never take for granted.
Donate Life KY partners with several non-profits, like Volunteers of America Mid-States, to raise awareness and assist people wanting to register.
If you're feeling inspired and want to sign up to become an organ donor, you can click this link.
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