He’s doing well for a man who a year ago was told he had a year to live.

Former Auburn University and Major League Baseball pitcher Steven Register is excited, yet nervous, just nine days from one of the most important days of his life. In nine days, Steven will receive a liver from a former high school classmate who, until a few weeks ago, he hadn’t seen in over 20 years.

It seems like yesterday when Steven Register graduated from Shaw High School in Columbus, Georgia, a member of the SHS Class of 2001.

Steven had a gift, and the gift was his right arm.

He matriculated to Auburn University, where he pitched from 2002 to 2004. Major league scouts flocked to Plainsman Park to watch Steven, who would soon spend a few years in the minors before making The Show and pitching with the Colorado Rockies in 2008 and the Philadelphia Phillies in 2009.

Kristin Mathias graduated from Shaw High School a year after Steven. Kristin went on to Georgia College & State University, where she cheered. She received an undergraduate degree from Columbus State and then earned a master’s degree in English education from the University of Georgia in Athens.

It’s hard for Steven and Kristin to fathom how quickly the time has gone.

It’s been almost 25 years since they were casual friends, chatting in school and hanging out at church. They later went their separate ways, both married, and both saw three kids born into their families.

Today, Steven and Beth Register of Auburn have three kids under the age of 16, while Cody and Kristin Johnston of Atlanta have three kids under the age of 9. It’s a hectic time in the lives of the Registers and the Johnstons as each day, it’s everything, everywhere all at once.

It was March of 2024 when he just couldn’t eat. “I was hungry, but when it came to eating, I was at a loss,” Steven told me.

It was not a good time to have health issues — Steven was only 41 years old, and his kids were 15, 13 and 7.

“I made a doctor’s appointment and went in for a CT scan,” said Steven. “After the appointment, I was immediately diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer, and it had spread to my liver.

“The pictures were insanely scary, as the tumors were covering 90 percent of my liver,” Steven added.

Steven, his wife Beth and their children were shocked at the diagnosis, and they were frightened at the news that followed: Steven Register was given a year to live.

“We immediately took action to try to find the best way to save my life,” said Steven.

Steven and Beth traveled to MD Anderson in Houston, where Steven underwent emergency surgery for a temporary colostomy. He immediately started chemotherapy.

“The chemo is very harsh,” Steven told me. “Many people struggle while receiving this chemo, but I’ve been lucky.”

Just five months ago, Steven had surgery to remove the tumor in his colon. The chemo was working well — so well that doctors thought Steven’s liver could be saved.

But then … “they decided that if they did a liver resection, the tumors they would remove would just grow back,” Steven said. “They said I would need a new liver.”

Kristin Johnston has always tried to do right.

“As a Christian, I try to be kind and help others. When I saw on Facebook that Steven Register was looking for a living liver donor, I messaged him,” Kristin said.

Steven’s former high school classmate, who he hadn’t seen in 20 years, sent Steven a message on Facebook: “What blood type are you, Steven?” Kristin wrote. “B-positive,” Steven answered.

“I’m B-positive, too!” wrote Kristin.

Why not? Kristin Johnston had yet to turn 40. She had studied about liver transplants and knew whatever doctors took of her liver would grow back.

Kristin had ultrasounds and stress tests. She donated 30 vials of blood. She attended meetings with doctors and nurses.

“God put this in front of me,” said Kristin. “I was ready to help Steven.”

Meanwhile, Steven was taken off chemo after 22 treatments, and like Kristin, he was consulted about the surgery.

It will be nine days from today when Kristin Johnston and Steven Register will be in side-by-side hospital rooms. Kristin will do what she can to help save Steven’s life, while Steven will do what he can to see that his life will continue.

It will be a complicated surgery performed at Strong Memorial Hospital of the University of Rochester in New York. World-renowned surgeon Dr. Robert Hernandez-Alejandro will perform the procedure.

“Dr. Hernandez will remove my entire liver, and he will give me 70 percent of Kristin’s liver,” said Steven.

Said Kristin, “While I’ll have only 30 percent of my liver remain, it will regenerate. Steven’s liver will also grow, so at some point we will both have 100 percent liver function.”

While both Kristin and Steven are a bit anxious about the procedure, they feel blessed.

“Kristin Johnston came out of left field to help me,” said the former pitcher, who tells me he’s grateful for a chance to hear good news about his future. “When you have a wife and three kids and you hear you have a year to live, you can go to a dark place.

“There are days when I sit and cry about my situation, but other times I rejoice in having God, my wife Beth and our children by my side. I wouldn’t be here without them, and I wouldn’t be here without all the support and all the prayers I have received.”

While the surgery will be performed up north, University of Georgia alum Kristin Johnston will remind former Auburn pitcher Steven Register that “Mr. War Eagle” will soon have some Georgia Bulldog in him.

That will certainly bring a laugh to a husband and father who plans on being around for quite some time.

The husband and father who a year ago was told he had a year to live.

*Rick Karle, who writes a weekly ‘Good News’ story, is a 25-time Emmy winner and a 43-year veteran of broadcast news who has lived and worked in Alabama for 35 years. You can find his work on Facebook at Rick Karle Good News. Send your story suggestions to: [email protected]