"I've always donated blood. I'm on the bone marrow list. I've always felt that if I had something somebody needs — that I don't — it makes perfect sense to give it."

That's how Karen Holstrom describes her motivation for joining the Salt Lake City Intermountain Donor Program to become a Good Samaritan for someone in need of a kidney.

Karen is a retired broker who spends her days skiing, biking and conversing with friends. Her kids are grown and now it's time for her to live a little. So her family was a bit shocked when she decided to donate one of her organs.

But in Salt Lake City, where only 7 percent of the population possesses type B positive blood, finding a donor was not easy. However, she found her calling after reading an article in the newspaper about matchingdonors.com.

"My mother actually read the article because she was sort of against me doing this; she said, 'Well, here's a thing about finding donors online!' "

Karen did go online, where she found Alex Pratt. And even though she did not turn out to be a good match for him — the patient who received her kidney later died of complications — she does not regret making the decision.

"I would do this again twice a year if I could, if I had that many organs. I don't have any reservations or hesitations to recommend this to people if they've researched it and are willing to take the risks involved."

Karen says the surgery was her first and after she recovered, she felt "reborn," with a new appreciation for being physically unimpaired.

"Now when I go outside and ski and hike and ride my bike, I'm still really appreciative. I hope it never wears off."