By Ashley Gardner ¦ Texarkana Gazette

    Floyd Hill spent years going in and out of hospitals trying to survive the effects of the same disease that killed Walter Payton.

    Primary sclerosing cholangitis is a progressive scarring and hardening of the bile ducts as a result of chronic inflammation. PSC causes liver damage and eventually liver failure. The cause is unknown.

    After years of fighting the illness, Floyd finally received a liver and kidney transplant Nov. 28, 2008, at Methodist Hospital in Dallas.

    A liver transplant is the only known cure for PCS. It is reserved for people with liver failure or other severe complications of PCS.

    Floyd believes luck has nothing to do with the fact that he’s still alive. He gives God full credit for making that happen.

    “I am grateful and thankful for being here. It’s like I’m living a second life and I’m getting a chance to see a little further into this life than if I’d (died),” said Floyd. “I feel like God gave me a second chance to help others.”

    There were times when Floyd and his wife, Norlene Hill, didn’t think a transplant would happen.

    “I was up there the whole time,” Norlene said of Floyd’s extended hospital stay at Methodist. “I was beginning to lose hope but I talked to the other families who had loved ones in the hospital. I prayed with them. God sent me a family away from home.”

    Since receiving his transplant, Floyd has been blessed to spend time with his family and spent this summer watching Floyd Jr., his 8-year-old son, play in baseball tournaments around the region, including an all-star and state tournament.

    “God blessed me to wake up. I did a lot with my son. We were on journeys to watch him play ball so it’s pretty much been a full schedule,” said Floyd.

    Floyd was one of a disproportionate number of minorities on organ transplant waiting lists around the country. Though his liver and kidney came from a Caucasian, most of the time recipients are most likely to find a compatible donor within their own race.

    Floyd said he’s lucky to have received a suitable organ in time.

    “They said I had a good chance and that I was the perfect candidate because all my other organs were healthy and I didn’t have any other diseases,” Floyd said.

    For Floyd, life has taken on a new meaning. He’s making plans right now to start a nonprofit to help wayward kids. His trust in God is stronger than ever.

    “God has been with me before,” he said, “and I have an inkling he’ll be with me always.”