FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — A Forsyth County man says advice from a local NFL veteran is changing his life.

Vishnu Dureddy desperately needs a kidney transplant and is taking his call for help to social media.

“I’m very much a private person, honestly. We just keep it in the family,” Dureddy told Channel 2′s Berndt Petersen.

Dureddy has stage 5 kidney failure and undergoes 18 hours of dialysis each day.

He needs a transplant.

Willie Blackwell knows how it feels. The former football star at Morris Brown College and NFL player was in desperate need of a kidney, but kept it quiet.

“I get kind of emotional talking about it. God has really blessed me. Any way I can help somebody else, I do it,” Blackwell said.

His doctor told him to take to social media and spread the word.

Not long after that, he received the gift of life.

“I just want to be there for them,” Dureddy said while speaking of his wife and daughters.

His daughters are 13 and 15 and have helped their dad take his story public after Blackwell gave him a little nudge.

“We are truly thankful for his help. There are no words for what he’s doing for us. He’s a true friend to us right now.” Dureddy said.

To learn more about becoming a living donor, click here: www.kidneyforvishnu.com or www.emorylivingdonor.org.