SEATTLE -- After years of knowing each other as simply barista and customer, two women are now forever tied.

The Starbucks barista donated her kidney to her customer.

Annamarie Ausnes and Sandie Andersen walked into Virginia Mason Hospital Tuesday the best of friends.

They will leave the hospital with a lifelong bond.

"I'm going to be the wonderful recipient of this amazing woman's kidney," Annamarie explained.

The two women met over a cup of coffee.

Buying the same $1.52 brew nearly everyday for three years was enough time for Sandie, the Starbucks barista, to learn Annamarie needed a kidney transplant.

So at 9:10 Tuesday morning, Sandie went into surgery.

Annamarie sat waiting to get the gift of life.

"The gift of life, there are no words," she said. "It is unconditional love I have for Sandy."

Sandie's surgery took a little longer than expected but went well.

Hours later, after a careful removal, Dr. Thomas Hefty wheeled Sandy's left kidney out of her surgery suite, across the hall, and into Annamarie's operating room.

Dr. Hefty left Annamarie's diseased kidneys in place to reduce the trauma.

The women's husbands explained afterwards how both families lives are forever changed.

"You know she has a grandchild," said Annamarie's husband John Ausnes. "She's going to be able to babysit and play with her. That's the biggest thing. A long life. On dialysis can be upwards of five years before you get a kidney. So this has been a miracle. And we're excited about the future."

Sandie's husband, Jeffery Andersen said, "If you can save somebody's life, that's what she wanted to do. Sandy has an open heart. She wanted to save somebody's life and Annamarie was there."

Both families said they were willing to give up their privacy and share their story to encourage organ donation.

For more information on being an organ donor, visit www.donatelifetoday.com on the web or call the Living Legacy Foundation at 877-275-5269.

In Washington, Virginia Mason, UW Hospital, Swedish and Spokane's Sacred Heart Hospital all perform living organ transplants.