Woman donates kidney to her boss



GRANDVILLE, Mich. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) – For those in need of a kidney transplant, finding a donor can be more than a challenge, but sometimes the perfect match is right under your nose.

In Grandville, a Walmart manager has waited for years to find a donor, until now. His co-worker is stepping up to give him what he thought he might never find.

The two employees met at the Grandville Walmart, not knowing that a few months down the line, that meeting would change lives.

Jeff Goodale is an assistant manager at the Walmart. He inherited a kidney disease from his father.

“Cysts grow in my kidneys and shut them down,” said Goodale.

The disease is so paralyzing that he's been on the organ donation list, waiting for a new kidney, for two years.

“Without a kidney I'd have to have dialysis for the rest of my life,” said Goodale. “That's nine hours a day hooked up to a machine, every day.”

Now, Goodale looks to be able to avoid that future thanks to Teresa Pearson.

“We came here within months of each other and then this happened,” said Goodale.

Pearson, offered a kidney to her boss.

“She came up to me one day and wanted to donate a kidney,” said Goodale.

“He kinda looked at me funny,” said Pearson.

Goodale says he wasn't even sure if Pearson was serious.

“The time she told me, we hardly knew each other,” said Goodale. “We didn't know each others' last names.”

However Pearson said it was no joke and after some careful thought she decided to go ahead with the donation. She was tested and found out she was a perfect match.

Pearson says the donation is the least she could do for all that Goodale has done serving his country in the U.S. Navy.

“I think Jeff being in the service for 20 years is more than what I could possibly do,” said Pearson.

And in the end, Pearson says actions are a lot stronger than words.

“Do some research, try,” said Pearson. “You can save lives.”

As for Goodale, he is beyond grateful.

“To this day, I still don't know what to say to her,” said Goodale.

Goodale was supposed to receive the kidney transplant in March, but that's been pushed back a bit and they're now looking at early May.