When Steven Register and his wife Beth began searching for a liver donor, they never imagined that the answer to their prayers would come from someone they hadn’t seen in over two decades.

Steven and his family (left) / Kristin Johnston (right) | Credit: Support Now

In April 2024, Steven — a former MLB pitcher who played for the Colorado Rockies and the Philadelphia Phillies — received the devastating diagnosis of Stage IV colon cancer that had spread to his liver. Despite the grim prognosis, Steven has faced every surgery, chemo round, and obstacle with resilience and unwavering faith.

With limited time and a narrowing window for treatment options, the Register family started looking into a liver transplant. That’s when a miracle stepped in — Kristin Johnston, a high school classmate Steven hadn’t spoken to in more than 20 years.

Kristin, a preschool teacher and mom of three from Roswell, Georgia, saw a post in a Facebook group Beth had created to help find a donor. She immediately felt compelled to act. After confirming they shared the same blood type — B positive — Kristin offered to donate a portion of her liver if she was a match.

“It was just so far out of left field,” said Steven Register, who couldn’t believe it when Johnston volunteered to donate part of her liver. He added to SWNS, “I haven’t seen or talked to her in over 20 years, and for her to reach out like that, it was just meant to be.”

Kristin’s incredible gift of life has brought two families together in an unexpected and beautiful way. Both the Register and Johnston families will travel to Rochester, New York, for the transplant. They’re preparing for a lengthy stay away from home as Steven begins this next step in his fight for life.

The surgery, which is expected to take 12 to 14 hours, will involve removing 70% of Johnston’s liver and transplanting it into Register. Both her remaining liver and the donated portion will regenerate over time.

Steven Register shared his hope for the future, saying, “once I get my liver with all the tumor and cancer out, I’ll be cancer-free from there.”

Now, the community is rallying to support both families during this journey, offering prayers, encouragement, and donations through a fundraiser created to help with travel and medical expenses.