Sherri Plair had suffered from polycystic kidney disease for many years when she was placed on the transplant waiting list at age 29. After a five-year wait, including two on dialysis, her prayers were finally answered with a kidney transplant on Nov. 15, 2009. Since her transplant, Sherri has been living life to the fullest and has watched her daughter grow into a beautiful young woman. Sherri also became a volunteer with Donate Life South Carolina and LifePoint and was recently hired as an employee of the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles, a strong supporter of Donate Life. "Life after my transplant is great!" she exclaimed.

Sherri's Story

Despite being a long-time sufferer of polycystic kidney disease, Sherri Plair enjoyed her job at Michelin in Columbia, S.C., where she was on her feet all day making steel belts for tires. At the age of 29, however, she was placed on the transplant waiting list, and three years later she had to undergo three-times-weekly dialysis treatments. Because she could no longer meet the job requirement to lift more than 20 pounds, she was forced to leave Michelin.

During this time, Sherri was also raising a young daughter. After two years on dialysis and five years on the waiting list, her prayers were finally answered on Nov. 15, 2009, when Sherri received her kidney transplant at the Medical University of South Carolina.

Since her transplant, Sherri has enjoyed life to the fullest. She has watched her daughter, a senior psychology major at Clemson University, grow into a beautiful young woman. She began volunteering with Donate Life South Carolina and LifePoint and was recently hired at the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).

"DMV has a long history of supporting Donate Life, and it's an honor for me to be associated with both organizations," stated Kevin A. Shwedo, SCDMV executive director. "When I found out that one of our own employees, Sherri Plair, was a recipient of a donated kidney, I could not have been more thrilled. Right here in our own agency, we have a person whose life was saved by organ donation. Sherri is a perfect example of how Donate Life saves lives."

Sherri, now 39, is grateful for this opportunity to help spread awareness about the need for more organ, eye and tissue donors while celebrating the gift of life she has received. Her excitement will be evident as she rides the Donate Life Rose Parade Float on the streets of Pasadena.

"Life after my transplant is great!" she emphasized. "I am free to go anywhere and anytime without trying to adjust to my dialysis schedule – just living a normal day-to-day life. I enjoy working at SC Department of Motor Vehicle as a Compliance Specialist at the CDL Help Desk. When the CDL department had a job opening, I applied. This was the first time SC Vocational Rehab and the DMV teamed up for this program. I'm glad they did to give disabled people like me a chance to get back in the workforce."

According to Sherri's coworker Peggy Fouty, "Sherri got a second chance at life and doesn't take it for granted."