A Mansfield Christian School teacher is giving the gift of life to one of her students.

Wendy Killian is donating a kidney to eight-year-old first-grader Nicole Miller, the daughter of Brian and Letitia Miller.

Nicole was born with only one kidney, and has a genetic disorder that is causing it to fail.

Her mother, Letitia Miller, says the kidney is also too small and is not growing as Nicole grows. 

17 potential donors volunteered but 15 were eliminated for various reasons.
Two were tested but found not to be a match.
Killian offered to be tested, and she's a perfect match.

She was inspired by the person who donated blood platelets, saving her infant son's life and vowed she would help another couple's child if she ever got the chance.

Letitia Miller says she and her husband are grateful beyond words and call Killian "an amazing woman".

Wendy and Nicole will be out of school for about six weeks, but Nicole should feel much better quickly.

The next step is to make up for the lost school work and pass first grade.

Mansfield Christian Elementary School Principal Linda Hoeflich has told Letitia Miller a tutor and daily schoolwork will be sent to their home to help Nicole keep up with her lessons.

The surgery is not yet scheduled but will likely be in late April, with Killian's kidney being removed at University Hospital in Cleveland and implanted in Nicole at neighboring Rainbow Baby's and Children's Hospital.    

Brian and Letitia Miller have saved-up for the $14,000 out-of-pocket cost, with insurance and medicare covering the rest.