SAN DIEGO -- In a Thanksgiving Day story, East County digital correspondent Rett Lawrence introduced us to a woman from Lakeside who gave a special gift this season. Rett traveled back to the city of Orange to follow up on this amazing story.

To say Jennifer Barnette's life was in the balance would be cliche' and incredibly optomistic.

"They gave me a zero-point-zero-zero-two-percent chance of survival," she said.

In the summer of 2005, Jennifer was 8 months pregnant when something went wrong. She lost her baby and nearly lost her life.

"She actually died and coded. She flatlined at 3:40 that morning," Jen's husband, Mike Barnette, said.

A risky experimental operation saved her life, but her kidneys failed. After years of dialysis and failed searches for a suitable donor, hope seemed to fade.

Jennifer met Chris Porfilio at Barona Speedway. When Chris heard Jennifer's story she offered one of her kidneys without missing a beat.

Fast-forward six months and Jennifer's life is about to change. It's transplant day at St. Joseph's Hospital.

"What's going on with Chris?" Jennifer asked, her excitement seemed to be overshadowed by concern for her friend.

Then, Jennifer was off to surgery and Chris was headed for the recovery room.

Just a few hours off the operating table, Chris reflected on why she decided to donate.

"She shouldn't have been here," Porfilio said. "And for her to come through what she did has touched me, like you know. And I don't know that I could've survived what she went through, so to help her in any way is all I could do for her."

In the end, doctors said the operation went perfectly.

Later -- less than 24 hours after the operation -- the friends were eager to see each other. And a little sore.

"I'm a lot sorer today. I still feel good, just really sore. I think everything's starting to wake up and realize, 'Hey! Something's gone,'" Chris said.

Both women have just been released from the hospital and both are in very good health.

Chris is looking at about a six-week recovery before she can return to work. A fund to help her pay living expenses has been set up.

Mail donations to:

Sisters Gift Shop c/o Chris To Jen Fund 576 East Mission Road, B San Marcos, CA 92069 760-736-3126

For more information, go to the Chris To Jen MySpace Page.