MEMPHIS, TN (abc24.com) - People at FedEx are calling one of their own a hero. When Glenda Corwin found out one of her co-workers needed a kidney transplant, she donated one of hers. Tuesday, FedEx gave Corwin its Humanitarian Award.
It's hard to standout when you're just one of the more than 300,000 people who work for FedEx, but employee Glenda Corwin is standing out after standing up to help save co-worker Mark Orris.
"I knew if Mark ever needed a kidney I would be there for him," Corwin stated.
Orris suffers from a genetic condition called polycystic kidney disease, or PKD. "Your kidneys get enlarged, they become infected with cysts," Orris explained.
Corwin says she felt compelled to give Mark her kidney because ten years ago her mom needed one.
"I was not a match for my mother," Corwin said, "I prayed that if my mom got a kidney I would someday pay it forward."
On March 16th at the University Hospital of Cleveland it was time for Corwin to pay it forward.
"Not only did she give me the gift of life, she gave me the gift of quality of life," Orris said, "I think of her everyday… we had a special relationship, even more so now."
"I'm just grateful I can do this for Mark," Corwin said. "I'm so happy when I look at Mark and see how great he looks."
Orris says he's now healthy and back at work.
