She lost 135 pounds to save her brother's life

Video: She lost 135 lbs. to save brother’s life

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   >>> back now at 8:09 with a pretty unique weight loss story. kerry roberts dropped 135 pounds not for herself but for her brother. that's because he was in desperate need of a kidney transplant . he is still in desperate need of that kidney transplant , and she was too overweight to be a donor. so kerry and her brother, tony, are now joining us along with nbc's chief medical editor dr. nancy snyderman . good morning to everyone. you're diagnosed about six years ago.

   >> right.

   >> with this disease. it is called?

   >> iga. it is basically a protein that we normally have that fights infection but in this case it gets deposited in the kidney and starts a slow process of kidney failure .

   >> so you need a transplant. you go in and you're told what about why you cannot, when you went in, donate?

   >> well, i didn't go in at first. i told him that i wanted to be tested and he informed me that they wouldn't even consider me until i lost some weight. i was too overweight.

   >> because you were so overweight.

   >> yeah.

   >> now, you -- when someone loves somebody enough to want to lose weight for this purpose, that makes a lot -- was there fear that you might not be able to do it?

   >> yeah, yeah. but i tried to stay hopeful and stay motivated to try. i mean, how terrible would i have felt if, you know, i couldn't because -- just because i was overweight, you know?

   >> but you didn't even know if you were a match when you decided to lose all this weight.

   >> right. i didn't find out until april that i was a perfect match , actually.

   >> the fact that she did that, tony, means what to you?

   >> well, it's given me my life back, you know? just giving me back all the things i love to do and just feel very fortunate that i got a sister like kerry to do that for me.

   >> you know what is really interesting here, ann, is she couldn't have been considered a donor before because when you're really obese, that's enough of a strain on a kidney that doctors wouldn't have wanted to test her because they wouldn't have wanted her to just have one kidney left. but in an interesting way this has worked out, two lives have been saved -- a kidney life and a life that might have been shortened from obesity so it is really an extraordinary sort of doubleheader.

   >> in other words you helped each other possibly live longer, but we still have to wait for this transplant and you are hoping you're going to be scheduled next week?

   >> we're hoping to hear something tomorrow.

   >> and then have the doctors told you what you're in for? are you prepared?

   >> oh, yes. they've totally prepared me. when i went through all my testing they walked through everything that i would go through and, yes. i'm ready.

   >> okay. i think a lot of people listening, you know, can see you were highly motivated to lose this weight. but then how did you lose the weight?

   >> i started off just eating healthier. i definitely cut out any fatty foods, any high sugared, fattening sweets, and started walking a mile a day and eventually started walking two miles a day and three miles a day and now i do anywhere from three to six miles three to five days a week.

   >> tony, as you're watching your sister, you know, do this.

   >> yes.

   >> every day, lose weight for you, this must have been so emotional for you on a day-to-day basis.

   >> sure, yes, it was. just couldn't be more proud of her, you know. she's amazing.

   >> and so, dr. nancy, what are they saying in terms of if this operation is successful --

   >> it will be. kidney transplants have come a long way. kidney transplantation has sort of led the other organ transplantation in this country. tony has been staying alive through kidney dialysis so three times a week he goes in. his blood is washed of all the toxins and a machine does the work his kidneys normally do for him. now getting one, good healthy kidney, that will take over. and the cool thing is for some wonderful reason god and mother nature gave us two kidneys and we're able to give one up and because they're a perfect match , i really do expect this to be an extraordinary success.

   >> wow. we can't wait for that. you've got a smile and put a smile on their face as well.

   >> it's all going to be fine.

   >> you are something. you're both something. and we wish you every luck. i can't wait to hear what happens after this when you have this transplant.

   >> thank you.

   >> you're good sister. how lucky. you drew a good card in the lottery. thank you very much to both of you for being here and dr. nancy as well.

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