⚾ A Pitcher’s Second Chance: How a High School Classmate Stepped Up to Save Steven Register’s Life

In April 2024, Steven Register, a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played for the Colorado Rockies and Philadelphia Phillies, received a devastating diagnosis: stage IV colon cancer that had spread to his liver. Doctors gave him just 18 months to live unless he could find a liver donor.

Steven and his wife, Beth, turned to social media in desperation, posting a heartfelt plea for help. They never expected the response they got—from Kristin Johnston, a high school classmate Steven hadn’t spoken to in over two decades. Moved by his story and determined to help, Kristin underwent testing and was found to be a match.

Despite the risks and the emotional weight of the decision, Kristin didn’t hesitate. “I just knew I had to do something,” she said. “We weren’t close in high school, but I remembered him. And I couldn’t ignore the feeling that I was meant to help.”

The transplant surgery was successful. Steven’s body accepted the liver, and his prognosis dramatically improved. He now speaks openly about the experience, calling Kristin his “angel in cleats” and using his platform to raise awareness about organ donation and the power of community.

This story isn’t just about a medical miracle—it’s about the unexpected ways lives can reconnect, and how one act of courage can rewrite someone’s future. Steven’s second chance came not from a teammate or a fan, but from someone who simply chose to step up when it mattered most.