MANILA, Philippines - Easter came early for a Filipino American woman in Illinois after a regular customer at the grocery store she worked for offered her one of his kidneys, Balitang America reported.

Myra Dela Vega owes her new lease on life to Chicago social worker Dan Coyne who gifted her with one of his kidneys.

“I am so blessed that God has given me a second chance...that God gave me a Dan Coyne, an angel," Dela Vega said.

Coyne came to know about Dela Vega’s condition 3 years ago while he was shopping at Jewel where she worked as a cashier.

“She just treats all people, all customers with respect,” Coyne said.

He found out that Dela Vega’s kidneys are failing and that she needed a transplant to live.

Coyne consulted his family about him being Dela Vega’s kidney donor.

“I didn’t actually believe him. I thought he's just a nice guy who just wanted to make me feel better,” Dela Vega said.

Coyne's wife, Emily, credited his upbringing for helping someone that he barely knew.

"He said I feel like I really should do this. I am supposed to do this,” Emily said.

After months of medical tests the transplant surgery finally took place at Northwestern hospital.

Coyne was released the next day.
 
"I’m doing great for having your kidney taken out of your body I'm surprised how well I feel,” he said.

Coyne hopes to inspire others to do the same.

“I always look at their faces whenever I am so depressed and I always say, 'Oh my God the kids, they need a mom, they need a mom. I cannot die,'” Dela Vega said. Balitang America