Woman donates kidney to ex-mother-in-law

LEOMINSTER, Mass. (WHDH) -- A Leominster woman volunteered to donate a kidney to her former mother-in-law years after her divorce.

The woman made the incredible offer nearly 10 years after she divorced the woman’s son.

Six weeks ago, a successful transplant operation was performed and both women are healing now. They say the whole ordeal has brought a family separated by divorce closer than ever.

“I broke down crying. I couldn’t even talk to her,” said Dorothy Wolferseder.

Erica Arsenault learned she was a match for her former mother-in-law soon after Dorothy Wolferseder found out her kidneys were failing at the age of 72.

“A lot of history between me and her,” said Erica Arsenault.

When the Wolferseders posted on Facebook that they were searching for a kidney donor to help save Dorothy's life, Erica wrote back with a simple message: “my kidneys are yours.” The life-saving act of generosity surprised no one more than Erica’s ex-husband.

“We were married just about 10 years. She told me just for the heartache she caused myself and our boys as well as my family, this was her way of making things right,” said Scott Wolferseder.

Scott Wolferseder and Erica Arsenault had two children together. She’s since remarried and has another son. But she says she and her former mother-in-law speak every day.

Despite the pain of the divorce, Scott says he'll always consider Erica family.