A north Georgia teaching assistant is giving the gift of life to a co-worker and friend of 16 years. Felicia Henderson is donating her kidney to the physical education teacher at Mount Zion Elementary School in Carrollton.
Ed Mann's health has suffered for the past three years. In 2009, he was diagnosed with scleroderma, an autoimmune disease.
"I had lung heart issues at first and then it took my kidneys out," said Mann.
Mann has continued to go to work for the past three years despite having to undergo six-hour dialysis treatments three days a week.
He first tried to find a donor the traditional way, but then he had an idea. He made a Facebook posting asking for a donor.
Henderson answered that call, not knowing if she would be a match for her co-worker and friend of 16 years.
Once doctors at the Emory Kidney Transplant Center confirmed that she was a match, Felicia didn't hesitate. She says that she knew it was the right thing to do.
"Actually, people that give a kidney, that are able to give a kidney, they live longer than the average person. Not because they have given a kidney, but because they were healthy enough in the first place to be able to do it," said Henderson.
Because of the gift, Coach Mann will continue to teach Mount Zion's kids how to stay physically fit.
"The gift of life. I know I've got so many good friends. Very thoughtful, very kind," said Mann.
The kidney transplant will take place on Friday.
Doctors at Emory say they should both recover from the surgery in time for Thanksgiving dinner. Mann looks forward to that since he says he hasn't had a good Thanksgiving meal in three years.
Sunday, May 19 2013 7:24 PM EDT2013-05-19 23:24:30 GMT
Rising flood waters trapped horses inside a Sandy Springs stable on Sunday afternoon. Rescue teams were called to Summit Equestrian Solutions on River Run around 4 p.m.
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Sunday, May 19 2013 7:10 PM EDT2013-05-19 23:10:38 GMT
On a day filled with nasty storms and heavy rains, there is a bright spot. A Suwanee police officer is being credited with saving the life of a baby bunny that was swept away by flood waters.
On a day filled with nasty storms and heavy rains, there is a bright spot. A Suwanee police officer is being credited with saving the life of a baby bunny that was swept away by flood waters during Sunday's downpour.
Sunday, May 19 2013 2:00 PM EDT2013-05-19 18:00:39 GMT
President Barack Obama addressed a crowd of soggy graduates and guests at Morehouse College's spring commencement ceremony on Sunday.
President Barack Obama addressed a crowd of soggy graduates and guests at Morehouse College's spring commencement ceremony on Sunday, telling graduates to take the power of their example-- as black men graduating from college-- and use it to improve people's lives.
Sunday, May 19 2013 1:53 PM EDT2013-05-19 17:53:40 GMT
President Barack Obama addressed graduates at Morehouse College's commencement ceremony in Atlanta on Sunday.
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Saturday, May 18 2013 10:09 PM EDT2013-05-19 02:09:05 GMT
They say you can't win if you don't play, and thousands of people are. The jackpot for Saturday night's Powerball drawing is an estimated $600 million, giving many a bad case of lottery fever.
They say you can't win if you don't play, and thousands of people are. The jackpot for Saturday night's Powerball drawing is an estimated $600 million, giving many a bad case of lottery fever.
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