Angelina and Jereme

When Angelina Attaway, 42, heard a former high school classmate needed a kidney transplant, she jumped at the chance to save a life, especially one of a longtime friend from their small town outside of Tallahassee, Florida. Her old classmate, Jereme Peterson, now living in North Texas and being cared for at Medical City Dallas, had been on daily dialysis for several years and was in dire need of a new kidney. Angelina ran through the battery of tests, found she was an excellent match and flew to the Medical City Dallas Transplant Institute for an operation that would eventually save Jereme's life. She wanted to keep it a secret from him until after surgery, but the two bumped into each other as they walked into the hospital for pre-op testing. They hugged, shared a few laughs — and then Jereme asked, "Why are you here all the way from Florida?" She said, "I'm your donor." After more hugs and tears, tests at the Medical City Transplant Institute confirmed she was in fact a perfect match. Robotic transplant surgery was completed days later by specialists at the transplant institute. "I couldn't believe it was her when I first saw her in the hospital, and then to find out she was my donor," he said through tears when they reunited after surgery. "I just hope other people will know how incredible of a gift this is and consider being organ donors. It's given me my life back. It's a blessing from God." Learn more about kidney transplantation at Medical City Dallas.