Two successful kidney donations at Churchill Hospital bring siblings closer
Family shares inspiring transplant journey at Oxford hospital
Two pairs of siblings from the same family have undergone life-saving kidney transplants at the Churchill Hospital in Oxford – nearly fifteen years apart.
Christopher and Jeremy Schuman are the most recent donor and recipient to have their surgeries.
The earlier operation in 2011 saw their youngest brother Philip donate to their sister Susan.
The family say the experience has not only changed their health, but brought them even closer together.
A condition decades in the making
Jeremy has lived with polycystic kidney disease since the 1990s – a genetic condition he and his sister Susan inherited from their father.
“We discovered it came from our father, even though he didn’t know he had it,” Jeremy said. “Out of the six of us, only Susan and I had the condition. So I always knew at some point my kidneys were going to fail.”
While his sister needed a transplant in her late forties, Jeremy’s condition progressed more slowly, with doctors monitoring a steady decline over the years.
“I was losing about three percent kidney function every year – it was really quite regular and quite depressing,” he said.
By early 2025, his condition had worsened significantly.
“My kidney function dropped below ten percent. At that point, I was being lined up for dialysis,” he said. “I mentioned to my brothers and sisters that I’d reached that stage, but I couldn’t ask anyone to donate.”
Siblings stepping up
As they had done in 2011, the family quickly rallied around him.
Both his sister Sarah and Christopher came forward to be tested, but only Christopher was found to be a suitable match.
For Christopher, the decision was straightforward.
“It was a no-brainer,” he said. “Who wouldn’t want to help their sibling out of a tricky situation?”
He said seeing his younger brother Philip donate years earlier helped spur him on.
“He was like my kidney guru throughout,” Christopher said. “He said it’s keyhole surgery, it takes two to three hours, and you’ll have about two weeks of mild discomfort afterwards – but it’ll be the greatest thing you’ve ever done. That completely changed my mindset.”
Donation experience
Christopher gave Jeremy his kidney in December 2025 and says the experience was far less daunting than he expected.
“A lot of people think it’s very gruesome, but it wasn’t,” he said. “We were in very good hands – the surgeons and nurses were phenomenal.”
He added: “It’s the best thing I’ve ever done. And it’s the gift that keeps giving – not just for Jeremy, but for everyone else on the waiting list, because they all move up a place.”
Four months on, Christopher says he has made a full recovery.
“I don’t feel any different. If anything, I feel lighter,” he said.
Life-changing results
For Jeremy, the impact of the transplant was immediate.
“The next day my kidney function had doubled. The following day it doubled again,” he said. “Within a week, I had normal kidney function and all the symptoms I’d been struggling with were gone. It completely changed my life.”
Having seen his sister go through the same procedure years earlier also helped him prepare.
“I’d seen videos of Susan and Philip just three weeks after the operation, laughing and joking,” he said. “That was very reassuring.”
A lasting impact on the family
The siblings say their close relationship – shaped by their parents – played a huge role in both donations.
“We are a very close family, and that’s down to our parents,” Jeremy said. “That’s the legacy they left us.”
He added: “I’m immensely grateful, but those words don’t really do justice to it. I’m in awe of what Christopher did for me, and what Philip did for Susan.”
Christopher said the experience has only strengthened their bond further.
“When we’re together, it’s like there are no problems in the world,” he said. “Everything just feels fine.”