After losing 135 pounds, she gave her brother the gift of life

Video: Brother, sister ‘great’ after kidney transplant

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   >>> this morning on "today's update" the gift of life . a few months ago we shared the story of a brother and sister and the lengths she went to, to save her brother's life. we'll catch up with them live in a moment.

   >>> first nbc's chief medical editor dr. nancy snyderman has their story. when tony boulder was diagnosed with kidney disease , doctors told the 40-year-old father he wouldn't survive without a new kidney. his sister, carrie , quickly stepped up to the plate but just as quickly doctors turned her down. at 375 pounds, she couldn't even be considered as a donor.

   >> we felt it was much too risky for her at that point in time because her risk of developing type ii diabetes or kidney failure or both were quite high, given that her weight was over 300 pounds.

   >> reporter: carrie refused to take no for an answer so she took matters into her own hand and stepped onto a treadmill for the first time in her life.

   >> i went down, plugged it in, it worked, got on it and started walking.

   >> reporter: and mile by mile, she shed the pounds, determined to save her brother's life. two years later, and 130 pounds thinner, doctors told carrie she was not only an eligible donor but a perfect match .

   >> i called him, he kind of just sat there, he didn't say anything for a while because we were waiting. we were excited.

   >> back at 8:09 --

   >> in september carrie and tony shared their good news with us.

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

   >> it's just, giving me my life back. i just feel very fortunate i have a sister like carrie to do that for me.

   >> reporter: but their journey was only just beginning.

   >> i'm a little nervous for my sister. her surgery is a lot more invasive than mine.

   >> i feel good, surprisingly i'm calm.

   >> reporter: and calm she stayed, with the support of her family, carrie never had a second thought. as she headed into surgery, her brother followed closely behind, in hopes of a new future, and just moments later came the greatest gift a sibling could give, the gift of life .

   >> and dr. nancy is here along with tony boulda and carrie roberts. tony, you look great. how do you feel after the surgery?

   >> i feel great.

   >> how did it go?

   >> it went perfect, yes.

   >> and so what do they tell you now? what do the doctors say about your diagnosis? are you cured?

   >> yeah, pretty much i'm kidney disease free. i have no more eating restrictions which i've taken full advantage of since i've gotten out of the hospital. not too much.

   >> ask carrie , she'll tell you how to get back on board.

   >> right.

   >> carrie , when you look at that story and here you were not only willing to go to great lengths but to take on a massive undertaking to lose that weight, how do you feel now, having given him literally a new lease on life?

   >> i feel great. it feels good to see how great he feels and how back to normal he's doing, and --

   >> tony you're more emotional now than the first time we met.

   >> yes.

   >> did it hit you more?

   >> yes, now that we're passed it all and things worked out perfectly.

   >> savannah, when we first met we looked at two lives being saved, a life being saved and a life literally kari saved her own life but it's a reminder, 96,000 people on waiting lists, most people having two kidneys think about being a donor. it doesn't always have to be siblings.

   >> kari what was your experience? sometimes the donor experience can be more complicated than the recipients. i know you had a tummy tuck , too, at the same time which i know added a little more pain.

   >> yes. it was what i expected. i mean, it's not a walk in the park you know, but it was a little painful, but the outcome was worth all of that.

   >> yes. how are you planning to keep the weight off? because that's always such the challenge.

   >> i still enjoy walking. i haven't gotten back to running yet, but yeah, i enjoy walking. it's more like, you know, kind of therapeutic for me, and i just think it's the way i eat is just burned in my brain now.

   >> i imagine that you were close already, the way you so quickly leapt to help your brother but how has it transformed your relationship, tony?

   >> brought us more closer, we spend a lot more time together and you know, i owe her everything. i don't know how i'll ever be able to repay her but it's brought us a lot closer.

   >> they always say it's better to give than receive. how do you feel?

   >> i feel great. i feel like i said, it feels really good to see how good he feels.

   >> and dr. nancy , what would your message be? there are people out there, they need donors, i mean what's the message here?

   >> this is the one organ for some reason we're given two of, in most good days you need one of. think about being a kidney donor. it's interesting, these guys move forward in their lives, the real impetus to stay healthy is because you know you have one kidney. you have one kidney. so you want to protect that and the ways to protect that are to eat a good diet, avoid diabetes and high blood pressure and when you come so close to losing your life or losing a sibling, you look at life very differently, especially this time of year, so this is the feel good story that can resonate to millions of people across this country.

   >> and there may be no more powerful message than to hear from the two of you, who have actually been through the experience. what would you want to say to people out there who may be considering becoming donors? tony?

   >> definitely consider it. it's a great thing for me. you know, i mean, there's nothing really more you could do for somebody than to give them a piece of yourself and save your life.

   >> and kari, you've been through it.

   >> yeah, yeah, i would say you don't really, you don't need two kidneys and if you could help somebody else, then i mean, the way it makes you feel inside is worth all of it, you know.

   >> with the extraordinary shortage in this country it's really a time to remember there are 96,000 people out there who are watching this and thinking, could i be the next person to be so lucky?

   >> both of you are such an inspiration on multiple levels, we're so glad you came back and shared your story. tony and kari, thank you and dr. nancy thank you as always.

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