Despite the risks associated with major surgery and the uncertainty of his future health, Joseph Obrochta of Woodcliff Lake donated a kidney to his best friend, Garrett Gurrieri, in 2005. The two have been friends since seventh grade and both attended Ramapo College. Through prolonged testing and absences from work, Obrochta shrugged off any notions of fear or inconvenience to help his friend, who was diagnosed at age 12 with a rare kidney disease that put him in end stage renal disease, despite two previous and ultimately unsuccessful transplants, that required daily dialysis treatment. Says Gurrieri, Our friendship started almost 15 years ago. It is a wonderful feeling to know it will endure a lifetime. Joey gave my life back. He is a wonderful human being.”