The love, concern and support that you have shown me this week has meant more to me than anyone can
ever know. Thank you for your notes, your calls and especially your prayers.
In these past days I have received so many kind messages from so many people, not only from Chicago, and not only from across the country, but even from around the world. Although I knew that I had made an
impact on people through my football career, never did I imagine that I could have touched the lives of so many of you. -- And I can tell you that you have touched my life as well.
Coming forward with the announcement about my condition was a very difficult decision for me to make. I know that I am facing one of the biggest personal
challenges of my life. But I promise you that I will fight my current battle with the same determination with which I fought my NFL competitors on the playing field.
I know that the outcome is in God's hands, but with God's help and with your continued prayers, I know that I will have the strength to do His will.
In my life I have tried to ease the suffering of others through the Walter Payton Foundation. I now hope that I can turn the negative of being afflicted with this liver condition into the positive of
being able to raise awareness for organ donation.
Many of you have asked what you can do to help. My only request is that you continue to pray,
and that you consider becoming an organ donor. It's as easy as signing the donor's statement on the back of your driver's license; making sure you are listed as a donor with the Secretary of State's
office, and telling your family about your wishes. My good friend and former coach, Mike Ditka, put it best when he said that the greatest gift anyone can give is, through death, to give life to another
person by being an organ donor.
Thank you for your love and support. May God be with you.
Walter Payton
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