Siblings share two kidney donations at the Churchill Hospital

Two of the Schuman family have experienced life‑saving kidney transplants at the Churchill Hospital. Brothers Jeremy and Christopher are the latest members of six siblings to undergo living donor kidney transplantation, with Christopher donating his kidney to Jeremy nearly 15 years after their youngest brother, Philip, donated his kidney to their sister, Susan.

The four siblings have now shared their remarkable story of love, legacy, and exceptional care at Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (OUH).

A long journey with polycystic kidney disease
Jeremy had lived with polycystic kidney disease since his thirties - a genetic condition also inherited by his sister Susan - in which cysts gradually damage the kidneys’ ability to filter toxins.

After years of gradual decline, his kidney function had fallen below 10% by early 2025. His symptoms worsened, his quality of life declined, dialysis was being discussed, and he was placed on the waiting list for a deceased donor transplant, which could take several years.

 "I mentioned to my brothers and sisters that things had reached this stage," Jeremy said. "I could never ask any of them to be a donor — it’s an impossible thing to ask. But we’re a very close family, so it didn’t surprise me when my siblings came forward."

Just as they had in 2011, Jeremy's siblings immediately stepped forward. Both his brother Christopher and sister Sarah offered to be tested; Sarah was not a match, but Christopher was.

For Christopher, the decision was simple. He said: "Once I knew I was compatible, it made things much easier. Why wouldn't I want to help my brother? If the roles were reversed, I'd hope he would want to donate to me."

He added that the experience was far less daunting than expected: "I'd recommend anyone thinking about it to seriously consider it. It's not as horrendous as you might imagine. The care was magnificent, and strangely, there was very little pain afterwards. It's the greatest thing I've ever done - ironically, it made me shift to a healthier lifestyle."

The impact for Jeremy was immediate. He said: "The next day my kidney function had doubled. The following day it doubled again. Within a week I had perfect kidney function, and all the symptoms I'd been struggling with were gone. My blood pressure returned to normal. It completely changed my life."

A family legacy of giving
For Susan and Philip, seeing another sibling go through the process brought back memories of their own experience nearly 15 years earlier.

Susan said: "The procedure gave me my life back. The impact wasn't just on me but on my whole family, especially my children. It gives us such pride to have a world class hospital so close to home."

Philip still remembers the moment vividly. He said: "Donating my kidney wasn't an easy decision, but I knew I had to do it – it's what our parents would have wanted. Fifteen years on, I'm healthy, and it remains one of the best things I've ever done. I'll never forget the look on Susan's children's faces when she came home."

Exceptional care at the Churchill Hospital
The Schuman family say their shared experience reflects not only the strength of their bond, but the outstanding kidney transplant care available at OUH. Both brothers praised the surgical and nursing teams at the Churchill for their efficiency, compassion, and the confidence they inspired from the outset.

Christopher said: "We had great faith in the surgeons, especially knowing the track record of kidney transplants at OUH. I was well informed throughout the process, and back to my routine in a few weeks after the procedure."

Jeremy added: "I wouldn’t be here without this transplant and without my brother. I'll always be grateful for the care we received; it was unfaltering. The staff are efficient, thorough and compassionate."

Professor Andrew Brent, Chief Medical Officer at OUH said: "Thank you to Jeremy, Christopher, Susan, and Philip for generously sharing their family’s story. Their experiences highlight the extraordinary impact that living kidney donation can have, not only for individuals, but for whole families.

"We are grateful to the Renal Transplant teams for their expertise, compassion, and commitment to delivering outstanding care, which makes stories like this possible."

More details on our Kidney Transplant service: OUH Kidney Transplant Team Celebrates Over 5,000 Transplants in 50 Years and Oxford University Hospitals Leads UK in Living Kidney Transplants.