A Boston school custodian donated his kidney to a stranger to save his colleague’s younger brother; a year later, both men were doing well | World News

Andrew Allen (left) and Thomas Thermidor (right). Image: Doug Haslam/Boston Arts Academy Foundation.

A Boston school custodian’s decision to donate a kidney to a stranger helped give his colleague’s younger brother a second chance at life. Andrew Allen, 53, worked night shifts at Boston Arts Academy, where he became friends with geometry teacher Tom Thermidor. When Thermidor revealed that his younger brother, Thomas, was suffering from stage 5 kidney failure and needed a transplant, Allen volunteered to become a donor. Although Allen’s kidney was not a direct match for Thomas, he proceeded with the donation through a kidney-exchange programme. His kidney went to another patient, helping Thomas receive a compatible organ from an anonymous donor. More than a year after their surgeries, both men were doing well, and Allen’s extraordinary gesture earned him recognition as an unsung hero.

A school custodian stepped in to help his colleague’s brother

Thomas Thermidor was 21 and studying at Babson College when he began experiencing headaches and chest pains. Initially, he thought he might have Covid-19, but his condition worsened, leaving him struggling to breathe. His girlfriend urged him to seek medical attention, where blood tests revealed stage 5 kidney failure.Within three months, Thomas had started dialysis, and his family began searching for a suitable donor. His two older brothers were tested but were rejected as potential donors, leaving the family facing an increasingly difficult situation.Meanwhile, at Boston Arts Academy, his older brother, Tom Thermidor, had developed a friendship with Allen, who worked the night shift as a custodian. After noticing that his colleague seemed troubled, Allen learnt about the younger brother’s condition and the unsuccessful search for a donor.Allen went home, researched living kidney donation online and submitted an application to Massachusetts General Hospital’s Living Donor Programme that same night. He later said his Christian faith had motivated him to take the first step.

Why Andrew Allen donated his kidney to a stranger

Medical testing established that Allen was not a suitable direct match for Thomas. However, this did not end his effort to help his colleague’s family.Through a kidney-exchange programme, Allen agreed to donate his kidney to another patient whose body could accept it. In return, the arrangement helped Thomas receive a compatible kidney from an anonymous donor.Allen underwent surgery to donate his kidney on June 3, 2025. Thomas received his transplant on August 20, 2025, after spending months undergoing dialysis and waiting for a suitable organ.Kidney exchanges help people whose willing donors are medically incompatible with them. Instead of abandoning the possibility of a living donation, the donor can provide an organ to another patient, allowing a compatible donor to help the intended recipient.For Thomas, the arrangement offered a way forward after both his older brothers had been ruled out. Although Allen’s kidney did not go directly to him, the donation helped make his transplant possible.

A year later, both men were doing well

More than a year after the two operations, Allen and Thomas were reported to be in good health and high spirits. Their families had also developed a close bond following the experience.Thomas described Allen as a source of hope during one of the darkest periods of his life. He said he had struggled to believe that someone outside his immediate family would volunteer to undergo surgery to help him.Allen, meanwhile, was reluctant to accept individual praise for his decision. He described himself as an ordinary person and said that anyone could make a similar choice.The experience also influenced Thomas’s outlook on generosity. After graduating from Babson College in May 2026, he joined Mass General Brigham’s development and philanthropy department. He said he was grateful for the opportunity to give back to the hospital system that had helped him and hoped to carry out anonymous acts of kindness himself in the future.

Boston school custodian honoured as an unsung hero

Boston Arts Academy recognised Allen during a National Custodian Day event on October 2, 2026. The celebration honoured the school’s custodial staff, with Allen receiving special recognition for his kidney donation.The Boston Arts Academy Foundation organised the surprise presentation, and Allen received proclamations acknowledging his contribution from Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and US Representative Ayanna Pressley.The ceremony brought Allen and the Thermidor family together to mark the impact of the donation. Their story also highlighted the contribution of school support staff, whose work often takes place outside the spotlight.