CORNING, N.Y. -- Few people know what it's like to give the gift of life, but Jenise Howard is one of them.
"I just couldn't say no. I had to do this," she said.
Four years ago, Howard donated a kidney to her cousin, who was in need of a second transplant after her first kidney transplant fail.
"This time I was just very drawn to it. For one, she is family. Everything was a match," she said. "As soon as they removed my kidney and hooked it up into hers it started producing urine. Which was amazing."
While Howard's donation wasn't a life or death decision, she has also made the pledge to donate her organs if something were to happen to her.
She is one of the millions of Americans who is a registered organ donor. Thanks to a new state law, that list should grow in 2017.
It will allow 16 and 17-year-olds to sign up.
"If you’re old enough to have a license, you're responsible enough to make a major decision about yourself and your future if something were to happen," she said.
According to statistics, just one organ donor can save up to eight lives and improve the lives of up to 50 people.
"You could easily save somebody else's life, or improve their life," she said. "If somebody passes away with their eyes in tact it could majorly improve their life."
The process to get registered is simple as checking a box, and can be done while renewing or receiving your liscense at the DMV.
"If you could help somebody out, if you’re not able to be here because of some tragedy, why not be able to save somebody else's life," Howars said.
Howard says if she had another kidney to give she would do it all again in a heartbeat.