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'It's nice that I can help somebody': 911 dispatcher donates kidney to co-worker

'It's nice that I can help somebody': 911 dispatcher donates kidney to co-worker
DETAILS ON THE SIX. >> SANDRA AND MELISSA HAVE WORKED TOGETHER FOR 16 YEARS. THEY ARE CALL TAKERS AND DISPATCHERS HERE AT THE 911 CENTER AND ALLEGHENY COUNTY. MOST OF THE TIME THEY HAVE SPENT TOGETHER HAS BEEN AT WORK. THEY ARE ABOUT TO SHARE A BOND THAT FEW OTHERS DO. >> SHE WAS A PERSON THAT I SECRETLY ADMIRED. >> SITTING SIDE-BY-SIDE THEY OFTEN DO IN THE 911 CENTER. SHE TREATS PEOPLE WITH RESPECT. SHE IS A WONDERFUL PERSON. >> YOUR ADMIRATION IS OBVIOUS. THE GIFT THEY ARE ABOUT TO SHARE IS EVEN BIGGER. >> I HAVE A KIDNEY DISEASE. >> SANDRA HAS BEEN SUFFERING FOR YEARS. SHE IS ON DIALYSIS SEVEN DAYS PER WEEK. THE ONLY CURE FOR HER DISEASE IS A KIDNEY TRANSPLANT. AT FIRST, MELISSA HAD NO IDEA. >> WE WENT TO A FELLOW EMPLOYEE’S WEDDING RECEPTION AND SHE SAID SHE HAD TO LEAVE EARLY TO GO HOME AND DO DIALYSIS. I KNEW SHE HAD KIDNEY PROBLEM’S BUT I DIDN’T KNOW SHE WAS ON DIALYSIS. >> SHE DID NOTE SHE NEEDED HELP. SHE GOT TESTED AND SHE WAS A MATCH. >> I KEPT PRAYING AND WAITING FOR IT TO HAPPEN. WHEN MELISSA SAID THAT SHE WOULD BE MY DONOR, I THOUGHT WAIT A MINUTE. WHAT DID YOU SAY? >> I KNOW THAT SHE LIVES WITH HER GRANDDAUGHTER AND HER SON. I KNOW WHAT THAT FEELING IS TO HAVE THAT GRANDPARENT THERE. I JUST DIDN’T WANT HER GRANDDAUGHTER TO LOSE HER GRANDMOTHER. >> THE GESTURE IS STILL INDESCRIBABLE. >> HOW CAN YOU THANKS SOMEBODY FOR GIVING A PART OF THEMSELVES? >> TO WOMEN WHO KNOW EACH OTHER MAINLY FROM WORK HELPING OTHERS IN THE DEMANDING ROLE THEY SHARE. THEY WILL NOW SHARE ONE EVEN GREATER. >> IT’S NICE THAT I CAN HELP SOMEBODY OVER THE PHONE AND I CAN HELP SOMEBODY IN PERSON. >> THE TRANSPLANT SURGERY IS SCHEDULED FOR FRIDAY AT ALLEGHENY GENERAL HOSPITAL. THEY HOPE BY TELLING THE
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'It's nice that I can help somebody': 911 dispatcher donates kidney to co-worker
Sandra Perry and Melissa Dailey have worked together as 911 dispatchers in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, for 16 years. They said they have admired and respected one another, but rarely socialized. Friday they created a bond most never will. Watch the full story in the video player above. "How can you thank somebody for giving a part of themselves?" asked Sandra Perry.Perry suffers from kidney disease. She gets dialysis seven days a week. The only cure is a kidney transplant. Her co-worker had no idea. "We went to a fellow employee's wedding reception, and Sandy said she had to leave early to go home and do dialysis. I knew she had kidney problems but I didn't know she was on dialysis," said Dailey.Perry decided to get tested and was a match. "I just kept living and doing what I was supposed to do and praying and for it to happen, but when Melissa said she would be my donor, I thought wait a minute, what did you say?" said Perry.The two 911 dispatchers, who spend their days helping others, underwent transplant surgery on Friday."It's nice that I can help somebody over the phone and then someone in person," said Dailey.

Sandra Perry and Melissa Dailey have worked together as 911 dispatchers in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, for 16 years. They said they have admired and respected one another, but rarely socialized. Friday they created a bond most never will.

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Watch the full story in the video player above.

"How can you thank somebody for giving a part of themselves?" asked Sandra Perry.

Perry suffers from kidney disease. She gets dialysis seven days a week. The only cure is a kidney transplant. Her co-worker had no idea.

"We went to a fellow employee's wedding reception, and Sandy said she had to leave early to go home and do dialysis. I knew she had kidney problems but I didn't know she was on dialysis," said Dailey.

Perry decided to get tested and was a match.

"I just kept living and doing what I was supposed to do and praying and for it to happen, but when Melissa said she would be my donor, I thought wait a minute, what did you say?" said Perry.

The two 911 dispatchers, who spend their days helping others, underwent transplant surgery on Friday.

"It's nice that I can help somebody over the phone and then someone in person," said Dailey.