He was given a year to live. He was then given an unexpected gift.

He does well for the man who was told he had a year to live a year ago.

Former Auburn University and Major League Baseball pitcher Stephen Register is excited, but has been nervous since just nine days from one of the most important days of his life. In nine days, Stephen receives his liver from a former high school classmate, who he had never seen in over 20 years, until a few weeks ago.

It appears to have been yesterday when I graduated from Shaw High School in Columbus, Georgia, a member of the 2001 SHS class.

Stephen had a gift, and the gift was his right arm.

he Enrolled at Auburn Universityhe pitched from 2002 to 2004. Major League scouts flocked to Plainsman Park to see Stephen. The Colorado Rockies in 2008 and the Philadelphia Phillies in 2009.

Christine Matthias graduated from Shaw High School a year after Stephen. Christine went to Georgia University and State University, where he cheered. She received her bachelor's degree from Columbus and then a master's degree in English education from the University of Georgia in Athens.

It's hard to guess how fast Stephen and Christine have become.

It's been almost 25 years since they were casual friends, chatting at school and strolling around in church. They later married, both married, and both saw three children born into a family.

Today, Stephen and Beth Register in Auburn have three children under the age of 16, while Cody and Christine Johnston in Atlanta have three children under the age of 9. It's a busy time in register life.

It was March 2024 when he just couldn't eat. “I was hungry, but when it came to eating, I was at a loss,” Stephen told me.

It wasn't a good time to have health issues – Stephen was only 41 years old, with his children being 15, 13, and 7.

“I made an appointment with the doctor and took part in a CT scan,” Stephen said. “After booking, I was immediately diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer and had spread to my liver.

“The photos were insanely scary because the tumor covered 90% of my liver,” added Stephen.

Stephen, his wife Beth, and their children were shocked by the diagnosis, and they were scared of the subsequent news: Stephen Register was given a year to live.

“We immediately took action and tried to find the best way to save my life,” Stephen said.

Stephen and Beth went MD Anderson In Houston, Stephen underwent emergency surgery for a temporary colostomy. He immediately began chemotherapy.

“Chemotherapy is very strict,” Stephen told me. “Many people struggle while undergoing this chemotherapy, but I was lucky.”

Just five months ago, Stephen had surgery to remove a tumor in his colon. Chemotherapy was working well – the doctor thought it could save Stephen's liver.

But then… “They decided that if they had a liver resection, the tumor they were going to remove would just grow,” Stephen said. “They said I needed a new liver.”

Christine Johnston has always been trying to do the right thing.

“As a Christian, I'm going to be kind and try to help others. When I saw Steven Register on Facebook looking for a live liver donor, I messaged him,” Kristin said.

Stephen's former high school classmate had never seen him in 20 years, so he sent a message to Stephen on Facebook. “What blood type are you, Stephen?” Christine wrote. “B positive,” replied Stephen.

“I'm also B-positive!” wrote Christine.

Why is it not good? Christine Johnston wasn't even 40 years old. She was studying liver transplants and knew anything that a liver doctor would grow.

Christine had an ultrasound and a stress test. She donated 30 blood. She attended meetings with doctors and nurses.

“God put this before me,” Christine said. “I was ready to help Stephen.”

Meanwhile, Stephen took chemotherapy after 22 treatments and, like Christine, he was consulted about the surgery.

It will be nine days from today to become a hospital room with Christine Johnston and Stephen Register lined up. Christine does what she can to help save Stephen's life, but Stephen does what he can to see his life continues.

It will be a complicated surgery performed in The powerful memorial hospital at the University of Rochester In New York. World famous surgeon Dr. Robert Hernandez Alejandro Perform the steps.

“Dr. Hernandez removes my entire liver and he gives me 70% of Christine's liver,” Stephen said.

“I only have 30% of my liver remaining, but it regenerates. Stephen's liver also grows,” Christine said.

Christine and Stephen both feel a little uneasy about this procedure, but they are blessed.

“Kristin Johnston came out of the left field to help me,” the former pitcher said. “If you have a wife and three children and hear that they have lived in for a year, you can go to a dark place.

“I have days when I sit and cry about my situation, but God, my wife Beth, I am pleased that our children are not by my side. I am not here without them.

The surgery takes place north, but University of Georgia alumni Johnston reminds the former Auburn Pitcher Stephen register that “Mr. War Eagle” has him soon the Georgia Bulldog.

It would certainly bring laughs to husband and father who plan to be around for quite some time.

A year ago my husband and father were told that he had a year for him to live.

* Writes the weekly “good news” story, Rick Carl is a 25-time Emmy Award winner and a 43-year veteran of broadcast news who has lived and worked in Alabama for 35 years. You can find his work on Facebook on Rick Karle's Good News. Please send your story suggestions as follows: rickkarlegoodnews@gmail.com