December 18, 2012

It is the ultimate Christmas gift.
    
Noah Harrison of Nashville is donating a kidney to his mother, and giving her a new chance at life.
      
As 19 year old Noah Harrison lies in a hospital bed at Vanderbilt Medical Center, he can't help but remember how much his mom has done for him.

"She has always been there for me, she's always given things and been there helping to support us, even when she doesn't have it, she's always there for us," says Harrison.
 
Just a few feet away, his mother, Erica Johnson, is also ready for surgery.
    
Johnson has renal failure, and she's now receiving one of her sons kidneys.

"I can't really say how grateful I am.  I'm very thankful and very grateful.  I'm glad he's healthy enough to do it, and I'm just really humbled by it," says Erica Johnson.

Noah's two siblings were also matches for their mom, but 19 year old Noah's kidneys were the best option.

The University of Tennessee sophomore says he didn't hesitate to help his mom.

"It came down to me by process of elimination.  I said from the get go I was already ready and willing to do it," says Harrison.

Noah has watched his mom go through dialysis treatments for the past two and a half years.
   
There have been hospitalizations, and in 2010 she nearly died.

Now Noah has a chance to move her closer to a cure.

"It's very humbling because he is so young and he made such a brave decision I think at such a young age," says Harrison.

Noah knows his life may be different from now on, but he's willing to sacrifice part of himself.
   
Both mother and son believe this will bring them even closer.

It's the nature of a transplant...taking from one, while giving to another.

"If there's anything I can do to help her as equally as much as she's done, if this is it, I'm willing to do it," says Harrison.

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