SUMTER COUNTY, Ga. (WALB) — For more than a decade, retired educator Valarie Trice has followed the same routine three days a week, spending hours connected to a dialysis machine while waiting for the call that could change her life.

After 11 years of treatment, Trice said she has now been approved for a kidney transplant.

During National Kidney Month, Trice is sharing her story in hopes of finding a living donor and raising awareness about the thousands of Georgians still waiting for an organ.

Nearly 3,000 people in Georgia are currently on the kidney transplant waitlist, according to experts. For many patients like Trice, dialysis becomes a long-term reality while they wait for a compatible donor.

Community members in Sumter County have supported Trice throughout her journey, helping spread the word about her search for a donor.

Trice said she hopes sharing her story during National Kidney Month will help people better understand the need for living donors and inspire someone to step forward.

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