.....Everson Walls. I grew up loathing the Cowboys and never liked 'em when I lived there. But this goes a little beyond that. http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/sports/16229842.htm
Ex-teammate could provide gift of lifeBy CLARENCE E. HILL JR.
STAR-TELEGRAM STAFF WRITER
Everson Walls made a career out of making big plays for the Cowboys.
Now, Walls, who has the second-most interceptions in Cowboys history, could be making a play to save a former teammate’s life.
Former Cowboys running back Ron Springs is in dire need of a kidney transplant and Walls has been identified as a match.
“He has been tested and he is a match,” Springs said from his home in Plano on Tuesday. “But nothing has been decided. I’ll know more on Friday.”
Walls did not return phone calls Tuesday.
But those who know Walls best said he would do anything to help his best friend. Walls, a former cornerback, and Springs were Cowboys teammates from 1981-1984.
Springs, 50, has hereditary type-2 diabetes and had a foot amputated because of a staph infection. Kidney failure was brought on by muscular fibrosis.
“It’s major,” former Cowboys running back and teammate Tony Dorsett said. “He has been through an awful lot. He needs a transplant badly.”
Springs, who spent six seasons with the Cowboys, is one of almost 20 million Americans living with kidney disease, including 32 percent of whom are African-American. He endures four hours of dialysis three times a week while waiting on an organ donor. Dorsett said he is excited about the possibility of Springs being given a new lease on life.
While Springs is in good spirits, Dorsett said Springs is having trouble with all of his extremities. He is hopeful a transplant will allow him to regain full use of his arms and movement in his legs.
“Any time you agree to give somebody your organs, it’s a big step,” Dorsett said. “ I hope it works out.”
Said former Cowboys receiver Tony Hill: “It would be huge if this is true. It’s a matter of life and death for Ron. It shows a lot of character on Walls’ part. It’s one thing to be a friend. It’s another to take that step.”
Springs has been close to getting a donor before. A niece was supposed to supply her organ but was unable after she became pregnant. A nephew was also a possibility but his kidney was not strong enough.
Shawn Springs, Ron’s son who plays cornerback for the Washington Redskins, offered to end his career and donate his kidney. But Ron Springs refused to allow any of his children to be tested.
Former Cowboys receiver Drew Pearson said he recently talked with Walls about Springs, but was given no indication he would take this step.
“I know [Springs] is having a tough time and the sooner he gets the kidney the better,” Pearson said. “When I talked to Everson, we talked about the grave situation and how [Springs] is having a tougher time than in the past. He didn’t say anything about him donating his kidney. But they are really good friends. If he is a match, he is going to do it.”
