Jackson mail carrier donates kidney to stranger, receives hero award

Martha Olsen a mail carrier in Jackson went far beyond her delivery duties when she donated her kidney to a complete stranger.

Thursday, Olsen was honored with a hero award from the United States Post Office for her donation.

Olsen said she wanted to become a donor for a father in need of a kidney after seeing a Facebook post about him.

Martha quickly got tested to see if she was a match.

Olsen said "I just had always thought it [organ donation] took place in families in other words if I'm related to you I can give you a kidney. I hadn't really put it into context anybody can donate to anybody. It's based on your blood type, tissue typing and how well you match that particular person."

While trying to donate an organ doctors test for a number of things including blood type, health, and kidney function.

Although Olsen has the same blood type as Dan and tested great for health, the possibility of rejection was too high for Dan if he used Olsen's kidney.

So he couldn't receive her donation.

However, this didn't stop Olsen from becoming a donor.

She found a woman in Texas that was in need of a kidney.

Dan also found a donor that was a perfect match for him and oddly enough Martha had her surgery the same day Dan did.

They recovered together and Olsen said Dan is doing great.

After surgery, it took about eight weeks for Olsen to return to work and after about 12 weeks she was doing everything she did before her surgery.

Now, Olsen drinks more water and doesn't stress out her kidney too much.

Olsen is running in a half marathon in four weeks and another one in October.

She even said she would consider donating again.

Olsen said her sister is even inspired to be a donor.

According to Health Resources and Services Administration there are 113 thousand people on the national transplant waiting list.

With 20 people dying each day donors are very needed.

Currently 95 percent of U.S. adults support organ donation but only 58 percent are actually signed up.

If you're interested in becoming a donor click "

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