By Tyana Williams | WAFB Channel 9, Baton Rouge, LA
BATON ROUGE, LA (WAFB) - There are 110,296 people waiting for organ transplants nationwide. Here in Louisiana, 1,724 people are on the list. One man from Illinois spent his Valentine's Day sharing the importance of the red heart on your drivers license.
"You can save up to nine lives in Louisiana," said Mike Greiner. That line is just part of a speech Greiner has given to thousands of people. "And I really appreciate it. Because of someone like you I'm alive today." For 300 days Greiner has been sharing his story with everyone he meets.
For 30 years, Greiner was severely diabetic. The Illinois man was placed on a transplant list, waiting for a donor. He says he sat around waiting for a call that would tell him he was going to live. Seven years ago, a match was found and he received a kidney and pancreas transplant.
"I would've had to gone on dialysis the day of my transplant," Greiner said.
Greiner said he was placed on a list outside of Illinois. Had he been put on that waiting list, it could have taken two to three years before he received his organs. Instead it only took six weeks.
Last year, his family sold their home in Illinois and began traveling state to state, sharing the importance of organ donation. Louisiana is their 40th state.
The family has turned their travels into a contest, challenging every state to sign up the most organs on their given day. With every person he is able to get signed up as a donor, he's reminded of what could have been.
"I had a moment where my wife and I went through the house and I explained the things that I do...because she could have been a single mom," Greiner said.
The Greiner's say at the end of their state travels, they'll pick the best state to settle in. If you're wondering, the Greiner's children are being home-schooled while they travel. Their next stop is Hawaii.
"You can save up to nine lives in Louisiana," said Mike Greiner. That line is just part of a speech Greiner has given to thousands of people. "And I really appreciate it. Because of someone like you I'm alive today." For 300 days Greiner has been sharing his story with everyone he meets.
For 30 years, Greiner was severely diabetic. The Illinois man was placed on a transplant list, waiting for a donor. He says he sat around waiting for a call that would tell him he was going to live. Seven years ago, a match was found and he received a kidney and pancreas transplant.
"I would've had to gone on dialysis the day of my transplant," Greiner said.
Greiner said he was placed on a list outside of Illinois. Had he been put on that waiting list, it could have taken two to three years before he received his organs. Instead it only took six weeks.
Last year, his family sold their home in Illinois and began traveling state to state, sharing the importance of organ donation. Louisiana is their 40th state.
The family has turned their travels into a contest, challenging every state to sign up the most organs on their given day. With every person he is able to get signed up as a donor, he's reminded of what could have been.
"I had a moment where my wife and I went through the house and I explained the things that I do...because she could have been a single mom," Greiner said.
The Greiner's say at the end of their state travels, they'll pick the best state to settle in. If you're wondering, the Greiner's children are being home-schooled while they travel. Their next stop is Hawaii.
If you'd like to keep up with the Greiner's, track them on their website.
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