Kim Perkins of Anderson, who received a life-changing pancreas transplant in 2013.

During the holidays, as we take the time to think about what we’re most grateful for, my answer is always the same: the gift of a healthy, fully present life made possible by organ donation.

My life was turned upside down during my senior year of college when I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. Suddenly, doctors told me that my future would have to look different than the one I had always imagined. I had to reconsider my career plans and even my hope of having children.

Despite the limitations of this disease, I built an incredible life surrounded by family and friends and even became a business owner in Upstate South Carolina.

But diabetes is a relentless disease, and over time, I developed nerve damage in my stomach. After years of hospital visits and managing constant limitations, my doctors recommended that I receive a pancreas transplant.

Thanks to my donor hero, Johnny, a 16-year-old boy who had registered at the S.C. Department of Motor Vehicles, and his generous family, I received a life-changing transplant on June 2, 2013.

Now that we’re in the thick of the holiday season, I think back to what my life looked like before my transplant. The holidays were always a source of stress. Without a consistent schedule, changes to my diet were a nightmare, and I ended up spending the holidays in the hospital, not with my family, more than once.

Because of the generosity of my donor hero and a healthy pancreas, I can truly settle in and enjoy all the season brings. I can be fully present with my husband and son, savoring every moment instead of slipping away for blood glucose checks or rushing through a meal during a low before dinner was served.

The gift of my organ transplant didn’t just give me more time. It gave me the ability to show up for my life in a way diabetes had taken from me. An organ is the most complete and selfless gift you can ever give or receive, and in my mind, no other gift compares.

To honor that gift, I now volunteer and work to raise awareness of the importance of organ, eye and tissue donation. By sharing my story, I want to put a face to the power of organ donation and help dispel the myths about donation that we commonly hear.

No two transplant journeys are the same, and I learn something every time I interact with someone in the donation community. I also serve on the board of directors at We Are Sharing Hope SC and frequently share my story with schools and community groups so people can make an informed decision about becoming donors.

Organ donation gave me a second chance at the joys of life that diabetes had taken away. I believe everyone deserves that chance. Today, more than 100,000 Americans, including about 1,800 South Carolinians, are waiting for a life-saving transplant. My life is a testament to the fact that registering as an organ, eye and tissue donor is a decision that transforms lives.

It takes only a moment to register at your local DMV, on the health app on your iPhone or online. That simple action — the same one my donor hero Johnny took — is the most profound and selfless gift you can offer this holiday season.

Register online at SharingHopeSC.org.

Kim Perkins lives in Anderson. Read the full article at postandcourier.com.