Woman, 42, donates kidney to her former mother-in-law to make up for walking out on her son

A woman has donated her kidney to her former mother-in-law to make up for leaving her son more than eight years ago.
Erica Arsenault, 42, saw the plea for a kidney for Dorothy Wolferseder, 73, from her former sister-in-law on Facebook and immediately called the family to say she would find out if she were a match.
Within months she discovered she was a match and, last month, underwent the successful surgery to give her shocked former mother-in-law a new lease of life.
But Erica, from Fitchburg, Massachusetts, didn't consider it a touching show of altruism, rather an act of penance for how she had treated Dorothy's son nearly a decade earlier.

Bond: Erica Arsenault, right, has donated a kidney to her former mother-in-law Dorothy Wolferseder, left, to make up for leaving her son eight years ago. They underwent surgery in July

Scott Wolferseder, 49, a police detective in Leominster, sat between his mother and ex-wife as he told the Boston Globe why his wife offered to undergo the risky surgery.
'Because of the hurt that she caused, not only myself, and our two boys, but the hurt that she caused my mom,' he said. 'And this was her way of... to make it right.'
The couple had married in 1993 and divorced eight years ago. They would not divulge details of the break up except to agree that Erica was the one who had walked out.
'We know who went wrong,' her ex-husband said, admitting he was not perfect either.

Capable hands: The women smile with their doctors ahead of the surgery in July, a year after Erica saw a plea for a donation on Facebook and six months after they discovered they were a match

Close: Erica, who had the support of her new husband, said she never thought of not donating her kidney

THE RISKS AND REWARDS OF DONATING A KIDNEY

A kidney transplant is needed when a patient loses 90 to 95 per cent of their kidney function. Until one becomes available, they can use dialysis to help clean their blood.
Donors are between the ages of 18 and 70 and have to be in good health. Tests will determine whether their blood types and immune systems make a good match; often a donor is a relative, but they do not need to be.
Statistics show 96 per cent of live kidney donations are still working after a year and 81 per cent after five years.
But there are risks involved -- donor surgery has a mortality rate of three in 10,000. There are also chances of infection and other complications, including collapsed lungs and blood clots.
Most donors stay in hospital for four to six days after the surgery, and heavy lifting is not recommended for a further six weeks. After the recovery period, donors can live perfectly normally with just one kidney.

Erica, who has remarried, added: 'It does take two people but I would probably take more of the blame. You learn more as you grow older.'
After the divorce, the pair were civil to each other as they raised their two sons, who are now 17 and 18 and live with their father.
One of the most devastating parts of the divorce for Erica was how close she had been with her former mother-in-law, the woman who had helped pick out her wedding gown and engagement ring.
They also stayed in touch after the divorce, and Erica also kept in touch with Scott's two sisters.
Dorothy went on dialysis in the summer of 2011 and her daughter Shelley put out a request for donors on Facebook. Erica called as soon as she saw the plea.
In January this year, she found out she was a match and her former mother-in-law was stunned, aware that there was a chance Erica could lose her life during surgery.
'I really couldn’t understand why she would subject her body to this,' she said.
Her son added: 'I was astonished. Of all the people.'
But Erica didn't just have herself to consider. She remarried two years ago and she and her new husband Eric, 32, have a four-year-old son.

Recovery: Erica caught an infection from the surgery but is expected to return to work in a few weeks

But she said Eric, who is going to Afghanistan next month with the National Guard, was supportive of her decision.
'I didn’t even think about whether I should do this,' Erica told the Globe. 'I never thought of not doing it. I wish I had four kidneys. I’d donate them all.'
The surgery on July 10 was a success, although doctors discovered an infection that means she will have to wait a few weeks longer to return to her job at Home Depot.
Life for Dorothy has changed too - and she remains stunned that it was Erica who gave her a second chance.
'Erica gave me life. I feel reborn,' she said. 'Who would have ever thought.'