A Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputy is set to donate part of his liver to a colleague this week in hope of saving his ill friend's life.

Deputy Jorge Castro, a 14-year veteran who works out of the Twin Towers Correctional Facility, was recently diagnosed with a failing liver and was told by doctors that he would need a transplant after several unsuccessful treatments.

With none of Castro's family members being a match, he was told it would be extremely difficult to find a donor. Without a successful transplant, his liver disease would likely progress to a fatal type of cancer.

He was given less than a year to live if he was not able to receive a liver transplant and place on a waiting list.

Shortly after receiving the dire news, Castro was talking to his co-worker, Deputy Javier Tiscareno, about his medical issues at work.

"He told me he would be dead by the end of the year," Tiscareno said. "That was unacceptable to me."

The 18-year veteran of the department decided to get tested and was a perfect match. Both men are scheduled to undergo surgery for a partial liver transplant on Thursday.

The deputies are expected to be hospitalized for at least two weeks before being sent home to recover.