BELMONT, N.C. — A basketball player is getting a second chance at pursuing his dream of becoming a college athlete after a life-saving transplant.

Staphon Peterson had cirrhosis or scarring of the liver due to an inherited condition called progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis (PFIC). According to John Hopkins University, the disease causes progressive liver disease and can end in liver failure.

Peterson graduated from Cramerton Christian Academy in Gaston County last year. He had his best basketball season his senior year even though he had cirrhosis. His mom, Wendy Douglas, said most of the highlights on his reel are from his senior year. 

“He gave it everything he had every game,” Douglas said. 

Douglas, who also coaches girls basketball at Cramerton Christian Academy, saw her son’s determination first hand. 

“His recovery was very difficult in between games. He would stay in the bed for an entire day,” Douglas said. 

Spectrum News first interviewed Peterson days before his liver transplant in September. At the time, he said he didn’t have a lot of energy and had to stop playing basketball. His father, Thurman, was his liver donor. 

“He’s just getting started with his life,” his father said. 

Thurman, who lives in Florida, came to North Carolina for the surgery and recovery. He’s glad he was a match and could help his son continue pursuing his dreams.

“Just to be able to see him thrive and know he’s going to be able to do, that’s the greatest gift we can give anyone,” Thurman said. 

Right after receiving the transplant, Peterson felt better physically and mentally. He is grateful for this gift.

“When you are sick, you can’t tell the difference between being sick and not being sick, but now that I’m not sick, I can feel a whole difference in my body,” he said. 

Douglas is thankful Staphon’s dad was a match. 

“I do not know what I would’ve done if his father wasn’t able to be a liver donor for him. It was unbearable when I found out I could not be a donor,” she said.

Douglas also knows what can happen if don’t have a donor. Her co-worker who needed a liver transplant died recently. 

“She was very encouraging for me, when [Staphon] was going through his process. For her to pass away, it just reminds me how grateful we are and blessed we are to have this opportunity,” Douglas said.

Peterson has been cleared to play basketball again.

“Being able to do something that I haven’t been able to do, like for a long time, like over seven months, now that I’m able to do it, that’s my only focus,” Staphon said. 

Douglas is also helping him train.

“He’s now moving like he never left it. It just warms my entire soul,” Douglas said. “We are excited to see what he can do at the healthiest point of his life.”

Peterson hopes now that he’s healthy to reach his goal of playing college basketball. 

“I’m hoping to be better than I was ever,” he said.

A Children’s Organ Transplant Association fundraiser has helped the family for costs associated with the transplant, including paying for medicine. As of Monday, the campaign raised $22,461 out of the $60,000 goal.