Woman gets kidney from boss

MORGANTON, N.C. -- Most people are born with two kidneys, but can live perfectly normal lives with only one. It’s that knowledge that convinced one man to give up one of his to help his colleague and friend of more than 11 years.

For years Lisa White has had polycystic kidney disease -- a potentially deadly, genetic disease where cysts form on a person's kidneys.

"They can rupture and become infected, which I've had trouble with in the past few years," explains White.

And for the last two years White's boss, Chris Jernigan, says he's watched his assistant's health decline.

"She would wake up everyday just sick to her stomach and just struggling and come into work and struggle," describes Jernigan.

Doctors told White she would need a kidney transplant or dialysis to stay alive. But she never expected her boss to sign up as a potential donor.

"Well, I was really surprised whenever he said that he would be willing to get checked out," says White.

Jernigan says the decision was natural for him.

“God gave you two kidneys and allowed your body to live with one so there’s got to be a reason to have two,” he said. “Maybe it’s because he expects us to give one of those if we get a chance to help somebody, so it just kind of seemed natural to me.”

He adds that humor has helped them through the ordeal.

"We joke around about we don't have a lot of money so it's either this or a pay raise, and we don't have the money to give you a raise Lisa,” Jernigan joked.

It turns out that Jernigan met three of the six indicators of a good donor, including age and blood type.

White was told she'd be lucky to find a donor outside the family who met one of the six.

After weeks of preparation and testing, the surgeries were successful.

"I feel the best I've felt, gosh, probably in about five years right now than I've felt since I don't know when," White said

Both White and Jernigan are now back on their feet.

Doctors even told White she could start working part-time as early as Tuesday, while Jernigan is expected to return in a few weeks.

White hopes her boss’ generosity will inspire others to donate organs – she says the waiting list for a donor kidney in North Carolina is about five years.