All right.
Well the holidays are almost here
so I sent Jeannie to surprise a deserving family in Minnesota
who could use a little bit of holiday cheer right now.
Jeannie, how are you?
Hi Ellen.
Jeannie, I know it--
I'm doing great.
How are you?
I'm good.
Portia was just in Minneapolis last week,
so I know it's freezing there.
All right, tell us about the family that we're surprising.
OK.
So Stacey is a single mom.
She has three kids.
Her oldest son, Zachary, is 13 years old.
He has had two kidney transplants.
He's been in and out of the hospital his entire life.
But Ellen, they say that watching the show
is what's gotten them through these tough times.
They are an absolutely amazing family.
Wow.
OK.
So before I send you in, and I want to send you in soon.
I'm going to surprise Stacey and her family
using our Cisco technology.
And Stacey is there.
She's waiting.
And when I say go, I'm going to pop up and surprise her
on her screen.
Ready, set, go.
Hi, Stacey.
Hi.
Surprise.
[CHEERING]
Hi.
Oh my god, oh my god.
Oh my god.
Hi, Stacey.
Hi.
OK.
So Stacey, tell everybody about your wonderful son, Zach.
Oh my gosh.
This is my son, Zachary.
He's been through so much.
He was born in kidney failure.
He had his first kidney transplant
when he was 11 months old, his second
when he was eight years old.
He rejected his kidney and he was about four.
He's had over 70 surgeries.
And this is what is amazing.
Tell everybody what you did to help him find a kidney.
This is amazing.
I signed up for the kidney paired exchange.
And three years later, the doctor called me.
And she's like, are you sitting down?
I'm like, I'm sitting down.
And I started crying.
And I thought it was bad news again,
because it's been bad news after bad news.
And she's like, Stacey, I found a kidney.
And it's in the kidney paired exchange.
And right away I'm like, oh my gosh.
I was the one that wanted to save him,
because I did not match him.
So I donated my kidney to a complete stranger
to get him a kidney.
I know.
Isn't that incredible?
[APPLAUSE]
That is so beautiful.
I didn't even know that existed.
So you donated your kidney to somebody else that you matched.
And then somebody else that matched him donated.
That's amazing.
So Zach, you look fantastic.
How are you feeling?
I'm feeling awesome ever since I got that kidney.
Yeah, I bet.
Well you look great and you have adorable hair.
Let me tell you something.
This is the kind of commitment-- listen to me,
everybody-- this is the kind of commitment
I need from my viewers.
Even though he's been in and out of the hospital,
he does not stop watching my show.
That's what I want.
That's what I need.
[CHEERING]
So Stacey, I know you're not able to work full time because
of Zach's condition.
So I want to help you out.
Did I hear somebody-- is somebody at your door?
[SCREAMING]
[CHEERING]
Come on, you guys, let's go upstairs.
OK.
Jeannie, wipe off the camera.
Oh my god.
OK.
So Stacey, we know this is something that you're good at.
We're going to play a game called Let's Make a Trade.
And here's how it works.
Earlier, I gave my audience a big prize.
If you can find me Christmas stockings,
I'm going to give your family what I just
gave to my audience.
Do you have any Christmas stockings?
Christmas stockings.
Where are your Christmas stockings?
Downstairs.
Go, go, go.
[INTERPOSING VOICES]
Oh, they're downstairs.
OK, guys.
Go.
Everybody needs a Christmas stocking.
There they are.
Christmas stockings.
[CHEERING]
All right.
Great.
So you've got them.
Stacey, I know your dream was to bring your family
to see a taping of my show.
So you're all getting tickets to one
of my 12 Days of Give Aways.
Oh my gosh.
[CHEERING]