Andrew Allen, a resident of Roslindale, Massachusetts, donated a kidney in 2025 through a living donor swap program, ultimately saving the life of Thomas Thermidor, a Norwood man who suffered from end-stage kidney failure. The donation has forged a remarkable bond between the two men, who had been strangers prior to this life-changing medical intervention.

Allen, an Orthodox Christian and father of two, works night shifts at an academy in Boston’s Fenway neighborhood. His connection to Thermidor began indirectly through Thermidor’s brother, Tom, a geometry teacher at the same academy. Over time, Allen and Tom became acquaintances, and during this period, Allen learned that Thermidor had been rejected as a potential kidney donor candidate by his own family members. Moved by the situation, Allen researched kidney donation online and applied to the Massachusetts General Hospital Living Donor program shortly thereafter.

Despite an imperfect blood type match, Allen’s kidney was approved for donation but not to Thermidor directly. Instead, through the paired kidney exchange program, Allen’s organ went to another recipient, allowing Thermidor to move higher on the transplant waiting list. Thermidor ultimately received a kidney from an anonymous donor on August 20, 2025, while Allen’s kidney removal surgery occurred on June 3 of that year.

Thermidor, originally from Haiti, relocated to Boston at age 11 and attended multiple public schools in the area. At 21, he began experiencing severe health problems initially mistaken for COVID-19 symptoms. Subsequent medical evaluation revealed stage 5 kidney failure, necessitating dialysis and triggering a search for a compatible donor. After Allen entered the picture, Thermidor described the experience as unexpectedly uplifting, referring to Allen as a “beacon of light” during a “very dark” period.

Both men report being in good health over a year after the transplant. Thermidor expressed profound gratitude for Allen’s generosity, calling him the “most kind-hearted, selfless person” he has ever met. Though the kidney he received was not Allen’s, Thermidor said he feels the weight and responsibility of carrying a living organ from a donor.

The experience has influenced Thermidor’s personal and professional trajectory. After graduating in May, he joined Massachusetts General Brigham as an associate coordinator in its development and philanthropy department, expressing a desire to give back to the hospital system that played a pivotal role in his survival. Thermidor also hopes to contribute anonymously in the future, inspired by the altruism that saved his life.

Allen, meanwhile, characterizes his act of donation as a simple, accessible gesture. “It feels not right for me to take any credit, individually,” he said. “I’m just a regular schmuck. Anybody can do this. It’s been such a great experience.”