Life can really throw you some mean and unexpected curve balls. One of those curve balls can actually alter or change the course of your life forever. Can you imagine yourself almost having a perfect life, when suddenly it's rudely interrupted and slowly starts to go down hill after that? Like a dark cloud is constantly following you and always raining down on your parade. Some stuff that you did in the past you no longer can do, despite your every will to do so. You strive to be normal like the people around you because just a few days ago you were one of them. Well, these are just some of the feelings that you go through when you've just found out that you have a serious liver disease and are in need of a transplant. I'm going to let you read some excerpts from the diary of a young girl who went through the process of having to have a liver transplant!

Day 1 - Dear diary, today is a good day despite the steady stomach pains that I keep having. It's no big deal, but I really need to concentrate on the volleyball game today. It's my first time playing and I know my team is going to win. Everything couldn't be better. I'm about to graduate from junior high with honors, volleyball, and plenty of close friends. Things couldn't get better!

Day 2 - Dear diary, I have some good and bad news for you today. We won the volleyball game, and my friend and I went to Shark's afterwards to get something to eat. But, after I ate, my stomach pains came back, and this time they were much worse than before. It felt like I was going to die. My stomach has swollen up like a big balloon just waiting to explode at any minute. I'm so scared. I'm at the hospital right now. My stomach is so big. One of the nurses asked me if I was pregnant. That was so embarrassing! Some of the test results said that something might be wrong with my liver. I hope that this problem can be cured by some kind of medicine or something. I need to go back to school because Valentines Day is coming up! I'll write back later.

Day 3 - My life is over. How could this happen to me? Is this some kind of curse? Am I going to die? I don't want to die! I just want to wake up from this bad dream! Can somebody please help me? The doctor told me that I have a chronic liver disease and that I have to have a transplant. I don't even really know what a transplant is. I thought that this stuff only happens on television. I never thought that this would actually happen to me. I thought this stuff only happens on General Hospital or One Life to Live…corny stuff like that. I'm not even old yet; I didn't even graduate from junior high. I want to graduate so badly. I'm sitting in the hospital bed feeling so depressed. If you could only feel my pain and imagine what I am going through. I feel all alone, like I'm the only one who has this problem. When the doctor came in to confirm the results of the tests and about the disease, she said it as if it was no big deal. I immediately started crying. I was so scared and disappointed. My parents didn't even try to comfort me while I lay in the bed crying. I hated all of them! When the doctor left (what felt like ages), my parents finally came over to comfort me. I was angry, angry with all of them because they didn't have to go through what I was experiencing. What a day! What are my friends going to think? I hope they don't start treating me as an outcast or some kind of lame freak. My body is tired. I'll write back later.

Day 4 - I'm back in school now and my friends were so supportive. They all treated me about the same. I even made some new friends in the process! The only problem is my diet. I can't eat a lot of salty foods. I can't eat stuff like pizza, ribs, hot dogs, McDonald's, Flamin' Hots, and lot's more. I get to eat baked chips, fries with no salt, and I have to put Mrs. Dash on practically everything for any flavor on my food. Another bad thing is I have jaundice in my eyes because of my bad liver. My skin is also getting darker and my acne is getting a little worse. This is definitely not good, especially when you're about to enter a new high school with good-looking guys all around. Nobody else has to deal with this mess except for me. I also have to go to the doctor every two weeks. With all these vitamins I have to take, it's driving me a little crazy. I just wish I were normal again. I can't wait to wake up from this bad dream. I've accepted my illness. I just have to trust in God and keep a positive attitude.

This young girl waited for about a year in a half. Her condition slowly started to worsen. Her esteem level also went down as she could see her features change as the illness slowly started taking over her body. When she looked in the mirror it was like seeing another person. Bags were forming around her eyes and the jaundice was getting worse. She continued to keep a positive attitude, until the day finally came when she received a special call saying that she no longer had to wait for her liver transplant!

Day 5 - I'm so excited. My mom just called with some real good news. I could hardly believe my ears! We are on our way to the hospital right now. The worst of my days are finally over. I'm just a little nervous, but for the most part, I'm pretty excited. Wish me good luck, and pray for me please!

Day 6 - This is my final entry to my diary. I have to start a new on because I now have a new life. Let me tell you what happened. I woke up and was in immediate pain. I feel like somebody has beaten me up real bad and punched me a thousand times in my stomach. I'm really swollen all over. I have to learn how to walk again and everything. I'm smiling right now because it's finally over. I can finally see the rainbow with the lucky pot of gold at the very end. I'm a little sad because somebody had to die in order for me to receive this new liver. My heart goes out to their family as well. Yes! I can finally eat whatever I want. My life is slowly getting back to normal. I've been in here for weeks now. I wonder what my friends are going to think. My skin is clearing up. No more jaundice and baggy eyes. I might even get me a few hollas while I'm down here! I have a second chance at life now. Nothing could be better. Watch out life because here I come! Bye diary.

This girl finally returned to school, despite the lifetime medication that she has to take. Her life slowly began to return to normal. This once depressed and stressful child was able to be happy again because someone thought of someone other than his or her self and became an organ donor. She now has fewer worries, can eat freely, is getting hollas from the boys, and just living life as a normal teenager. So if you hadn't decided, please just take the time out and reflect on what she had through. Would you want to be in her place? Why don't you help end this cycle by signing and saving someone's life in the future?

Epilogue:

There is a tremendous need across the United States for organ donors. Nationally, more than 85,000 people are waiting for transplants, and about 5,000 people in Illinois. Everyday about 16 people on the waiting list die. Every 13 minutes a new person is added to the national waiting list. I know this may not seem very important to you, but people need to wake up and start learning about these types of problems that we are facing today.

More than half are waiting for a kidney and about 30% for a liver. Other needed organs are heart, lungs, pancreas, and small intestines. Up to 25 people can benefit from a single donor. I know you're probably thinking that it will never happen to me and I won't need these things, but guess again, you might need something some day! An estimated one in 20 Americans will need some type of medical tissue transplant during his or her lifetime.

A lot of teens are taking Driver's Education this semester. Take into consideration that when you get your driver's license you too can become an organ donor. Just sign the back of your driver's license or ID card right on the plastic and have it witnessed by two people. Discuss the issue with your family because donation can't occur without next-of-kin consent. Finally, join the state registry. If you agree to be a donor, you will automatically be listed in the Organ Donor Registry. Call 1-800-210-2106 or go online at www.LifeGoeson.com to sign up.

In 1992, Illinois became the third state to implement an organ/tissue registry. Today, we have the largest state registry in the country, with slightly more than six million participants. Why not be a part of that and sign up today.

In Illinois, the percentage of African Americans signing up as organ donors is half that for the general population. Sign up rate is only 22% at the driver's facility on 99th and King Drive in Chicago. We have more African Americans on the donor waiting list than people actually signing up as organ donors. We need to change that statistic and show that African Americans don't just take advantage of the system, but in fact try to help it. All major religions also support organ donation. An organ donation does not occur until all efforts have failed to save a person.

For some of you, this may be your first time actually hearing about organ and tissue donations. Don't feel bad because a lot of people are unaware and lacking information. I really didn't know about it until two years ago when I found out that I needed a liver transplant. The person and family that signed up gave me a second chance at life. Now I'm here to reach out about the importance of organ and tissue donations. By signing the back of your license, your closest family member, neighbor, or friend could be saved. Could you imagine the pain and sadness of these families that are patiently waiting and praying are feeling? Why not try to end the sadness by telling other people about organ donor awareness or by becoming a donor yourself. You just might be saving another person's life in the future. I strongly challenge you to spread the word and tell at least two other people. So, tell your family, sign the back of your driver's license, and become an organ donor!