Right now there are nearly 80,000 people in the U.S. on a waiting list for a kidney transplant. About 2,000 just in Georgia and more than 600 in South Carolina. One North Augusta woman is off that list and she's crediting a higher power.

"I've known about this disease which is Polycystic Kidney Disease for 25 years," said Dianne Martin.

Martin is a fighter. She's battled a genetic disease that causes cysts to grow on her kidneys. It's the same disease that killed her father when he was just 39.

But Martin's struggle got a lot tougher in November 2006.

"As the kidney disease progressed and as her kidney function has deteriorated, her sense of well being has dropped," Dr. James Wynn of MCGHealth said.

"If I didn't have a kidney, I was going to have to go on dialysis," Martin said.

The disease left Martin facing an uncertain future. "Anytime you have kidney failure, you don't have quality of life," she said.

So one day, she took her fight before her congregation at Victory Baptist Church in North Augusta.

"I told the church I was going through a valley but I knew there was a mountain on the other side and I asked the church to pray for me. At the end of my testimony, I said if anyone in the congregation has three kidneys, please see me after church," Martin said.

"The Lord spoke to me and said you're a match," said Patricia Norwood, kidney donor.

Emotionally and spiritually moved by Martin's cry for help, Norwood, who sat just a few seats from Martin in the choir, called MCGHealth to donate a kidney.

"They told me I'm too old and too fat and I said I know it. Thank you very much,” said Norwood.

Ten months later Norwood's phone rang, it was MCGHealth. "They said we'd like to check you. I said I'm your match because I knew this. They used the word phenomenal when they told me what a match I was. I said hey, we have a phenomenal God,” Norwood said.

So just how phenomenal of a match was her kidney for Martin?

"My half sister, she tried and she couldn't give," Martin said.

So this past Wednesday morning, 15 months after Martin stood at the alter asking for help, 15 months after Norwood was inspired to donate, Martin's prayers were answered inside an operating room at MCGHealth.

"The surgery is very straight forward and complications are very uncommon," Dr. Wynn said.

Dr. Wynn is the Medical Director of the Kidney and Pancreas Transplant Program at MCGHealth. The surgeon and his team spent hours in the operating room transplanting Norwood's kidney into Martin's. It's a procedure they did a record 110 times in 2007.

"Most transplants like Martin's would be expected to last 15 years or more. So the long term success is very good,” Dr. Wynn said.

"She's giving me life. What kind of love is that? What kind of friendship is that, that you would be willing to give someone life? The Lord has answered my prayers and I'm healed," Martin said.

"If you can help somebody's quality of life by donating a kidney, get in there and do it," Norwood said.

We're happy to report both Martin and Norwood are recovering and doing well.