A Gift for Ron: Friendship and Sacrifice On and Off the Gridiron - Hardcover

Walls, Everson; Blackistone, Kevin

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1599215322 ISBN 13: 9781599215327

Publisher: UNKNO, 2009

Synopsis

A Brian's Song for a new generation ... the moving story of a rare friendship between two pro football stars

About this title

From the Inside Flap

After thirteen seasons as an NFL star, Everson Walls retired to his hometown of Dallas, Texas. He and former Cowboys teammate Ron Springs worked together on charities, their families became close, and they became godfathers to each other's children. But, as time passed, Ron could no longer conceal the ravaging effects of his diabetes. Before Walls knew it, his friend's simple medical procedures had become amputations and dialysis. It didn't matter that Ron was a former football star. It didn't matter that he was still full of life. Ron was like everyone else in the dialysis center: He was dying.
In A Gift for Ron, Walls tells the moving story of how he witnessed the suffering of Ron and his family. He also recounts their years of friendship against the backdrop of their football careers. Ron had always been willing, never afraid, to take up someone else's cause. Regardless of the consequences. Walls was to remember this life lesson on the day he heard that a potential kidney donor had fallen through for his friend―and also learned that he and Ron shared something truly precious: a blood type. Bolstered by his faith, Walls finally understood his only option―to donate a kidney to save his friend's life.
Ultimately, A Gift for Ron is much more than the story of two pro football stars. It is about being a teammate, being a leader, being a friend. Most of all, it is about how one friend made another realize that to be lucky in life does not necessarily mean to receive gifts, but to be able to give them.

From the Back Cover

“Teammates for four years, friends for life. The story of Everson Walls's gift of life to a former teammate is an inspiration for all of us.”
―Boomer Esiason, analyst for CBS Sports and WFAN, and former NFL quarterback and NFL Most Valuable Player
“How often do we hear about one person who is not related to another in any profession doing what Everson did? . . . [He] is the only person I've ever known who did what he did.”
―Frank Deford, author, sportswriter, and commentator (from the Foreword)
“Everson Walls and Kevin Blackistone have not only written a good football book, they have also given us an important life book. By sharing such a personal and compelling story about organ donation and transplantation, they will inspire and impact for years to come.”
―Jeffrey Marx, Pulitzer Prize–winning author of the New York Times bestseller Season of Life
“Everson Walls' display of unselfishness was the ultimate example of teamwork. A life lesson for us all.”
―James Brown, CBS Sports/Showtime
“[This] moving story of courage, sacrifice, and offering the ultimate gift to save a friend's life is truly inspiring.”
―Congressman Wm. Lacy Clay, legislative sponsor of the Everson Walls and Ron Springs Gift for Life Act of 2009

Edition details

• Publisher: UNKNO
• Publication date: 2009
• ISBN 10: 1599215322
• ISBN 13: 9781599215327
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 240