It was a birthday Troy Rowe will not forget. On February 2, the New York man walked into NYU Langone Health with his older sister, Kim Rowe, for a surgery that gave him a new kidney on his 49th birthday.
The siblings entered the hospital “arm-in-arm” as Kim prepared to donate one of her kidneys to her younger brother after learning she was a rare and highly compatible match.
Troy’s health problems first surfaced in 2024 during a routine physical exam, when doctors found his kidney function was declining. As his condition worsened, he began the process of joining the national transplant waiting list.
Things became more urgent in March 2025 when Troy met with nephrologist Dr. Lionel E. Desroches at NYU Langone for additional testing. After reviewing the results, the doctor instructed Troy to go straight to the emergency room.
Troy was later diagnosed with end-stage kidney disease caused by hypertension. He soon began dialysis and reached out to family and friends in hopes of finding a donor match.
Because Troy has B positive blood, which is less common, finding a compatible donor was expected to be difficult. Then Kim stepped forward.
“Once I found out that I was a match, there was no hesitation at all,” Kim told People. “I’m just so grateful and blessed that I could do this for him.”
Before she was cleared for surgery, Kim underwent extensive medical evaluations, including a physical exam, colonoscopy, and mammogram to make sure the donation would be safe for both of them.
When the procedure was scheduled for Troy’s birthday, the family saw meaning in the date.
“We took it as a good sign and a blessing,” Kim said.
For Troy, the moment brought relief after months of uncertainty.
“Asking someone to donate an organ to you is not an easy thing,” he said. “So for her to agree and be a match was the best feeling in the world.”
The transplant surgeries were successful. During recovery, the siblings stayed in constant contact before reuniting to celebrate Kim’s birthday the following month.
Several months after the operation, Troy said he feels like himself again. Kim also recovered well and said she would make the same choice again.
“I can’t say it enough, I wouldn’t change it for the world,” she said. “I’m grateful to have been the match for him, and a great match!”
The experience also strengthened a bond the pair already shared growing up.
“I’ve always looked after my baby brother,” Kim said. “Seeing the life in his face, it means everything.”
Reflecting on the transplant, Troy put it this way: “She gave me a second chance at life, how can I ever repay that?”
Read more from Sunny Skyz.
