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Colleague's Kidney Gift Leads to Second Chance
27 Mar
Summary
- Photojournalist receives life-saving kidney transplant from coworker.
- Recipient Jared Higginbotham returns to work healthier after transplant.
- Donor Andrea Courtois's selfless act inspires others to consider donation.
Photojournalist Jared Higginbotham marked his triumphant return to WBZ-TV on March 16, 2026, nearly four months after receiving a life-altering kidney transplant. His colleague, assignment editor Andrea Courtois, selflessly donated one of her kidneys in November 2026, a decision set in motion two years prior.
Jared had battled chronic kidney disease for ten years, waiting five years for a transplant. He described feeling "100%" healthier thanks to Andrea's donation. Andrea, who underwent rigorous testing without informing Jared, was a perfect match, a fact she revealed after learning he was cleared for surgery.
The transplant, performed at Massachusetts General Hospital, was successful, with Andrea's kidney functioning immediately. Despite initial post-surgery pain, Andrea recovered quickly, praising the hospital's efficient medical team. Jared faced a subsequent health scare requiring open-heart surgery but has since been recovering at home.
Andrea's act of generosity has highlighted the critical need for living kidney donors. With over 90,000 Americans on waiting lists and fewer than 6,500 living donor transplants performed in 2024, her story serves as an inspiration. The process for becoming a living donor, facilitated by hospitals like MGH and resources like the National Kidney Registry, is detailed as a manageable path to saving lives.
