In our last column, we reported about an Atlanta woman who donated a kidney to an elementary school girl who desperately needed one. Once again, another example of such selfless generosity has surfaced.

Annamarie Ausnes, like many residents of Seattle, was in the habit of stopping at her

However, one morning last fall, Sandie noticed sadness in Annamarie's voice and encouraged her to say what was on her mind. When Annamarie said that she desperately needed a kidney transplant, Sandie offered to be tested to see if she was a match.

Sandie was a match and arrangements were soon made for the transplant operations, which were performed on March 11 at Virginia Mason Medical Center in Tacoma.

"This is a miracle, an absolute miracle," Annamarie told ABCNEWS.com in an interview from the hospital the day after the surgery. "None of my family members tested were matches. I was facing a life of five to seven years of dialysis and worsening health. [Sandie] saved me from that."

Annamarie told reporters that she had walked over to Sandie's hospital room for a "nice little visit."

According to the New York Times, Howard D. Schultz, CEO of Starbucks, called both women and told Sandie Andersen how proud he was to have her "working for our company."

Because Sandie was to be out of work for six to eight weeks, Annamarie organized a fundraiser to help pay her expenses. "I didn't want [Sandie] to be in financial trouble," she said. "So we're helping with house payments."