Worcestershire mother-of-two Sally-Ann Grainger has received a new kidney from a stranger after writing about her cystic fibrosis in a local newspaper.
The 34-year-old from Warndon was given the organ by ex-convict and former soldier Wesley Joyce.
Joyce was jailed for four years in 2004 for assault, but is now trying to “make a new start”.
Grainger wrote about her illness in the Worcester News in January.
Joyce, a father of four, from Worcester is quoted by the Mirror as saying: "I looked at her story and it got to me a bit."
"I looked at her children and I could not imagine the mums of my children not being there for them," he added.
"I thought: 'I need to change my life a little bit', as I've not been a good boy all my life. I've done good things and bad things, but I thought, let's do good from now on.
"This is a good place to start. Let's save someone's life."
The former soldier was one of 10 people who responded to the newspaper article.
Grainger, who is recovering in Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham following the procedure, which took place on Friday, told the BBC: “I have no words to describe my gratitude. I'm just so overwhelmed."
"I didn't expect [the donation] to happen, you know. It only happens in movies."
She told Sky News she has now become close friends with Joyce after he gave her the opportunity to watch her daughters grow up.
The hospital is urging people to sign up to the organ donor register.