South Carolina Organ Waitlist Is 56% African American, Spotlighting Urgent Need For Education And Donor Outreach

Everett German’s kidney transplant From Sister Charlene Gives Broadcaster A Second Shot At Life

USA: Everett German, the familiar play‑by‑play voice for College of Charleston men’s basketball at TD Arena, survived a dramatic medical descent that ended in a life‑saving kidney transplantation provided by his youngest sister, Charlene. After weeks of worsening blurry vision and an optometrist’s warning, German learned his blood pressure measured a staggering 220 over 160 and that his kidneys had plunged to just 12 percent function — eventually falling to 5 percent. He spent a year on dialysis before receiving a donor kidney on June 8, 2011.

German’s transplant is the hinge between two very different chapters: a 20‑year career calling games on local radio and TV and a restored life as a 51‑year‑old husband and father with renewed appreciation for daily routines and the court he loves. The transplant returned not only physical function but also the ability to engage fully with family, community and the arena where his voice has become familiar for decades.

The story also highlights a wider and stark disparity in organ and tissue transplantation across South Carolina. A federally designated organization that facilitates organ and tissue donations statewide reports more than 1,900 people on the wait list, with over 56 percent of those candidates identified as African American. Community leaders and advocates — including Crystal Ko, cited in coverage of the issue — point to a persistent lack of education and trust as barriers to donation in communities of color. Officials stress that a single organ donor can save up to eight lives and that tissue donation can enhance the lives of as many as 75 people.

German’s recovery and his sister’s decision to become a living donor are presented as a beacon of possibility: a personal triumph and a call for broader conversation about transplantation, informed consent and outreach. Local advocates say they want more stories like this in order to narrow disparities and encourage more people to say yes to donation — a practical measure that can transform families and communities across the state.

Video originally published on 2026-03-07 00:32:38