MACON, Ga. — A Macon woman is launching a website this week to promote donating organs and to help those who are in need of a transplant.
Candice Stephens says at seven years old, she was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, Fast forward to 2016, and she was in desperate need of a helping hand.
"Knowing that I was abnormal in a sense due to my diabetes, so my health started declining," Stephens said.
In 2016, she found out that her kidney function was at a 15% and she needed help fast.
"Outside I looked amazing, but inside my organs were deteriorating they were declining," Stephens said. "By the time that I found out that I was in need of transplants or some type of treatment I was in stage three chronic kidney disease."
Stephens says her husband stepped in immediately to give her a kidney, but she still needed a second transplant two years later.
That's when she received a pancreas from a deceased organ donor.
"He saved my life, and I can't thank him enough for that," Stephens said.
Stephens says now it's her mission to do something to help others, she started a nonprofit - 'The Day After' Foundation - to educate others about how to become an organ donor.
"I wanted to create a space for pre and post-transplant patients to come for support," Stephens said. "I know that being on this journey, I realized that a lot of information was available to me, but I just didn't know how to access it."
According to Donate Life America, more than 100,000 people nationwide are waiting for lifesaving organ transplants. They also say nearly 17 people die daily while waiting for an organ transplant.
"I encourage those that are going through this journey - just don't give up. That call can be any day, you just never know," Stephens said.
On Saturday, Stephens will be launching a website for pre and post-transplant patients to help them through their recovery.
"A great starting point for someone that's on the journey to transplantation just to find out more about what it is," Stephens said.
Stephens says The Day After Foundation will have a website launch party on Saturday at Serenity Entertainment Complex on Poplar Street. It's from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.