Brighten Your Day

Woman's New Year's Resolution Saves A Stranger's Life

June 14, 2018

Last December, a 29-year-old woman made a New Year's resolution to donate a kidney and save someone's life.

Last night, Jessica Morris made good on her resolution.

Jessica Morris and David Nicherie / KTVU

"I knew that (donating a kidney) is what I wanted to do. I had no interest in working out," Morris told KTVU.

Hundreds of miles away from Morris, a 29-year-old Oakland man named David Nicherie was dying. He was on a transplant list but they said it would be at least 15 years.

"I was depressed," he said. "I was sad all the time."

Nicherie was desperate. So he put an ad on Craigslist telling people his story and seeing if there was anyone who would be willing to donate their kidney to him.

Morris saw the ad and replied.

"I wanted someone who was going to be able to tell me their life struggles, what they went through and how it was going to change them," she told KTVU. "Also, I wanted it to go to someone who needed it the most."

After months of testing, Morris learned she was a perfect match.

The operation last night lasted for several hours. Morris and Nicherie are both recovering at UCSF Medical Center.

When Nicherie was asked about Morris, he said, "I just see her as a gift from God."