Generous Teacher Gets A Chance to Win $1 Million

By Kathy Walsh

DENVER (CBS4) - A Denver teacher who gave a student a priceless gift now has the chance to become a millionaire.

In 2014, Jen Sculley donated a kidney to a teenager at Denver's East High School. Now, Sculley is being celebrated by a television game show.

"Who gets a chance to win a million dollars?" exclaimed Sculley, knowing the answer is, "She does."

Sculley will be featured on the syndicated game show, "Who Wants To Be a Millionaire?"

"I'm going to be filming the show this weekend," said Sculley.

It's a show of appreciation for Scully, now the dean of students at East High. When CBS4 Health Specialist Kathy Walsh met her in 2014, Sculley was a physical education teacher at East, preparing to save a student's life.

Madi Ferner grew up fighting incurable kidney disease. Sculley felt a calling to give Ferner one of her kidneys.

Now, 2 1/2 years later, Sculley says it was totally worth it even though an incisional hernia meant pain and two more surgeries for Sculley.

"Seeing Madi now, a sophomore at CU Boulder and living her life not attached to a machine ... totally worth it; would do it again in a heartbeat," said Sculley.

Struck by Sculley's kindness, the producers of "Who Wants To Be a Millionaire?" are giving her an opportunity to win big bucks on their Teacher Appreciation Week.

Asked how lucky she feels, Sculley answered, "A million dollars lucky, definitely."

The taping of the game show will be in Las Vegas. Sculley is hoping what happens in Vegas, comes home with her.

Kathy Walsh is CBS4's Weekend Anchor and Health Specialist. She has been with CBS4 for more than 30 years. She is always open to story ideas. Follow Kathy on Twitter @WalshCBS4.