Cardiac nurse receives life-changing kidney transplant thanks to colleague’s extraordinary gift
Wednesday 23 September 2026
[PRODUCER]: What were the thoughts going through your head when there was that waiting game of... will I get a transplant, will I not?
[CHARIS]: I started to panic a bit. I've always been someone that's been very in control. And for the first time, I think in my life I was running out of options. It was emotionally draining. But also, it's just constantly on your mind... What am I going to do? I don’t want dialysis, but I've got children at home. They need me. I was just starting to think, is this it? Am I going to be someone that never sees my 51st birthday?
[EMMA]: So I started making enquiries in the background. I didn't want Charis to become more unwell because I knew how difficult it had been for her. And I didn't want her to have another disappointment.
[CHARIS]: But I was about to get a call that would change my life.
[LORRAINE]: She was outside on the phone for ages, and she came in and I was like, ‘are you alright?’ And she says, ‘yeah, I've got a donor’ And I was like, really? That's amazing. You know, we were really excited for her. And I was like, ‘who is it?’ And she says, ‘you're never going to believe it.’ And she said, ‘it's Emma’.
[GRAPHIC ‘The call that changed my life: a journey of friendship, sacrifice and transplantation’]
[CHARIS]: I was diagnosed with IgA nephropathy after the birth of my first son. Therefore, I always knew that the life of my kidneys would be limited. They were really well medically managed for about 17 years. But in 2023, I was told that I would need to start making plans to try and find a live donor for transplantation. At that time, I therefore had no living donors and the chance of me getting a kidney was extremely limited and my time was running out.
[EMMA]: So I was aware that things haven't worked out for Charis's sister and that also her brother-in-law had come forward. And that made me look into how that could happen. I thought you would have to be a relative. But there's a very good system that allows you to enter to donate a kidney. As part of a paired living donor scheme where my kidney could go to somebody else who needed it. And they could have a person to donate on their behalf whose kidney would match with Charis. We were advised that we may not get a match the first time, but I think we were both thrilled when it happened first time.
[CHARIS]: Obviously, when she told me I was completely blown away, it wasn't the conversation that I thought we'd be having. It's quite a big thing, someone giving you a kidney and a thank you is not really going to cover it. I was lost for words. I cried, which I don't normally do. I'm just so incredibly grateful that she would be kind enough to do something like that for me.
[EMMA]: I think Charis at every opportunity said to me, you don't have to do this. You don't have to do it. And I had to keep reassuring her I'm going to do it. I’m honestly going to do it, to the point where I was going down to the operating theatre, and she said, I still won't hold it against you. You don't have to do it. But I was doing it. I can be quite stubborn once I've made my mind up about something, it's going to happen.
[LORRAINE]: Although we were stunned at first to find out that Emma was going to donate a kidney to Charis, we weren't surprised. And it makes you really stop and think about, you know, that's what kindness and humanity really is. And, you know, we’re a team that look out for each other. And Emma, through her leadership, has created that culture of caring and compassion. If anything, it really solidified our relationship more, and we wanted to make sure that everything was fine for them while they were away and that Emma would have nothing to worry about.
[EMMA]: It's a great team, and I think I felt I was doing it on behalf of the team. I couldn't have done it on my own. I couldn't have done it without their support and their backing. They're all wonderful. And I said I would have done it for any of them, but obviously it was really nice that I could do it for Charis.
[CHARIS]: I got there first!
Laughter from both Emma and Charis
[LORRAINE]: So we all met for breakfast the week before they were admitted to hospital, and we presented them with matching pyjamas, matching slippers, and it was really nice to get a picture of the two of them in their matching jammies and slippers the night before their surgery, looking really happy, and they just looked like they were ready to take on whatever was about to come their way.
[GRAPHIC: Day of Operation
1st July 2025]
[EMMA]: The actual day of the operation, it was very hot. I remember it being warm.
[CHARIS]: So hot.
[EMMA]: I went and had my operation first. I went down at 8 o’clock in the morning and I'd come back from my operation. I couldn't really relax until I knew she'd come back.
[LORRAINE]: We were all waiting with bated breath to get the outcomes of how successful the surgery was. And I even remember texting Charis’s husband the night of her transplant and going ‘this is really weird’ ‘because we text on a daily basis’ and knowing that I can't text her, that she's not texting me back, it's really worrying.
[EMMA]: And it was actually about 2 o’clock in the morning that the consultant came up and said to me, it's all gone well. She'll be coming back in a minute. And I felt relieved then.
[CHARIS]: When I woke up after the operation, Emma was next to me, which was a lovely feeling. It was very comforting, actually. And because she'd had a bit more time to recover. She was already out of bed, pottering about, which was very handy because she was able to help me then with my recovery, as if she didn't help me enough already. And we spent two nights together on the HDU, which was great, and I was really sad to see her go. I really missed her and that gave me more emphasis on trying to get out quickly as possible.
[CHARIS ON VOICE NOTE]: Only me again. It’s all good here. Obviously missed you. Company next door's just not the same. Nicola’s just popped in. She said she spoke to you. She's delighted, obviously, that you’re home. And I saw the Prof as well, who was also delighted. Said you did amazing. And he also said the other pairing are doing really well, which is nice.
[CHARIS]: It has definitely changed our relationship. I think we're closer, but it's a it's a real unique bond. You know, we're still friends, we're still colleagues and it's almost Emma’s not my sister, but I feel like we're almost connected some way.
[EMMA’S VOICE NOTE]: I'm so glad you're coming back, but obviously not glad for you. But I've missed you. But you can't go back to work. Because otherwise you won't have enough time to meet me for walks and bits.
[CHARIS]: Initially, after we had the operation, we were both off at the same time and if we didn't sort of speak to each other like at least once a day and meet each other, you sort of feel like there's something missing. There was an attachment there, and we shared an experience together that no one else is ever going to really understand because they haven't been through it themselves. And even now there's just a place in my heart that's there for Emma that is special for someone that would do something like that for me.
[GRAPHIC: Donate today. Save a life tomorrow.
A specialist cardiac nurse at Harefield Hospital has received a life-changing kidney transplant thanks to the extraordinary support of her manager, who volunteered to become a donor.
For years, 51-year-old Charis Browne had lived with IgM nephropathy, a kidney condition diagnosed shortly after the birth of her first son. Although her illness was successfully managed for 17 years, she was told in 2023 that her kidney function had declined to the point where she would need a transplant.
As Charis’ health deteriorated, family members explored the possibility of donating a kidney, but unfortunately, they were not eligible to donate. Reflecting on this time, Charis said: “I started to panic a bit, I’ve always been someone that’s been very in control and for the first time in my life, I was running out of options. I didn’t want dialysis, but I have children and they need me and I was just starting to think, is this it? Am I going to be someone who doesn’t get to see their 51st birthday?”
Watching her colleague go through this incredibly difficult time and witnessing Charis’ health steadily decline was Emma Neves, lead nurse for familial hypercholesterolaemia and lipid management and Charis’ team manager. She made the bold decision to see whether she could be a donor and, without telling Charis, she underwent testing to see if she was eligible.
53-year-old Emma, said: “I started making enquiries in the background, I didn’t want to get Charis’ hopes up. I didn’t want her to have to deal with another disappointment if I wasn’t able to donate. When I found out I could, I was delighted.”
Although Emma was not a direct match, she was suitable for kidney donation and was able to join the UK Living Kidney Sharing Scheme alongside Charis. The scheme matches donor and recipient pairs with other compatible pairs, helping more people receive life-saving transplants.
When Emma eventually shared the news, Charis was overwhelmed. “When Emma told me she was willing to be a donor, I was completely blown away,” said Charis. “I was in shock. It’s a very big thing for someone to give you a kidney. A thank you is not really going to cover it.”
Just 7 months later, Charis and Emma were matched with another donor-recipient pair, and in July 2025 they both underwent operations at Hammersmith Hospital. Emma’s operation took place first, and her first thought when she gained consciousness was of Charis. “I couldn’t properly relax until I heard that Charis’ operation had gone well too.”
Following their operations, the pair spent 2 days in HDU, side by side. Charis recalls waking up and seeing Emma next to her. “When I woke up from the operation, Emma was next to me, which was incredibly comforting. And she helped me with my recovery. We spent 2 nights together on the HDU, I really missed being with her when she was discharged.”
Fellow colleague and specialist nurse Lorraine Priestley-Barnham said: “Although we were stunned at first to find out that Emma was going to donate a kidney to Charis, we weren’t surprised. It makes you really stop and think that’s what kindness and humanity really is. We are a team that looks out for each other, and Emma, through her leadership, has created a culture of kindness and compassion.”
Throughout this time, Emma and Charis’ nursing colleagues rallied around them, putting together gift boxes and matching pyjamas before their hospital admissions and providing ongoing emotional support throughout their recovery. Colleague Lorraine said: “We were in awe of them both. They are amazing.” Emma added that the support of the wider team was invaluable, crediting them with keeping everything running smoothly in their specialist cardiac clinic while they were away, describing it as a “true team effort.”
Their friendship and connection only deepened during their post-op recovery at home. The pair checked in every day, meeting for walks and supporting one another as they regained their strength. Charis said: “We now have such a unique bond. Emma’s not my sister but I feel like we are almost connected in some way. There will always be a special place in my heart for Emma, what she has done for me is extraordinary.”
Today, Charis is enjoying a dramatic improvement in her health. Prior to having the transplant, she found it difficult to get through the day without resting, and would be very fatigued. “A year on from my kidney transplant I can honestly say it’s given me a totally new lease of life. Every day seems more manageable and full of possibilities. I feel like I have my life back and can plan for a future, I never thought possible.”
Once Emma, who recently became a grandmother, had made her mind up to help Charis, she never faltered. Emma, who describes herself as ‘fiercely stubborn when I’ve made a commitment’ said that she would have done the same for any of the team and she now hopes that their story will encourage more people to consider organ donation. “I was so fortunate to be healthy enough to donate,” she said. “The teams at Hammersmith Hospital were amazing and supported me every step of the way. If sharing our story encourages even one person to think about becoming a donor, it will be worth it.”
Both have since made an excellent recovery and have returned to work together caring for cardiac patients. Today, the pair continue to work side by side, united by an experience that neither will ever forget.
Lisa Burnapp, Associate Medical Director for Living Donation at NHS Blood and Transplant, said:
“It is wonderful to hear that Charis has received a living donor kidney through the UK Living Kidney Sharing Scheme (UKLKSS), thanks to the generosity of her colleague. We are always inspired by the generosity of people who offer to donate an organ- either as a living donor or after their death. It is thanks to them that lives are saved and transformed every day for people waiting for a transplant.
“To date, more than 2,300 people have been transplanted through the UKLKSS. With the UK transplant waiting list at a record high, over 8,500 people waiting for an organ transplant and almost 7,000 of that number waiting for a kidney, the role of living donation and the UKLKSS is critically important. Currently, 1 in 3 transplants in the UK is made possible by a living donor. Anyone can volunteer to be considered as a living donor - family member, friend, colleague or complete stranger.
“Living donation is not for everyone but the one thing everybody can do to help all of those waiting for a transplant is to confirm their donation decision should they die in circumstances where they can donate. It takes just two minutes to confirm a donation decision on the NHS Organ Donor Register and can save up to 9 lives.”
Last updated: September 2026
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