A woman donated a kidney to her twin brother and said it was a "no-brainer" after she was revealed to be a "perfect match".
Lloyd Owen, 29, needed a transplant after a tumour in his neck caused irreversible damage to his kidneys.
Faced with her brother being on dialysis for life, twin sister Kira got tested and immediately offered to give him a kidney.
The op was a success and relieved Lloyd burst into tears when he saw his sister when they both woke up.
Usually, transplant patients don't get to see their family for a few days after the operation because they are kept in isolation, due to his weakened immune system.
But the pair were able to bunk up in the same ward at Derriford Hospital, Plymouth, and recover together.
Kira Owen, a supervisor, from Plymouth, said: "He said we could get tested but there was no pressure.
"I knew my chances of being a match were high so it was absolutely a no-brainer for me.
"When I found out I was a match I was so happy that I could help my brother but at the same time it was scary as I didn't know what to expect."
Lloyd, an event manager, from Plymouth, Devon, said: "It was a quick conclusion - Kira really wanted to do it.
"I was happy, I was relieved, but there was a lot of emotions regarding it - it was a big part of my life last year."
In 2015, Lloyd was hospitalised after he broke his kneecap.
Doctors then found that Lloyd had a tumour on his parathyroid glands - which produces a hormone that regulates calcium levels.
"My body was producing lots of calcium then realised it didn't need it and would deposit the calcium in my kidney which led to the damage," he said.
The tumour was removed in 2015 but it had already done damage.
In February 2023, Lloyd was told that he would either need a kidney transplant or would need to be on dialysis for life.
Kira went for general observations in July 2023 and went for a "full body MOT" in September before she was told she would be a match.
She said: "I was told I was a perfect match - I was scared but relieved that he was going to get help.
"It all happened very quickly. It was like 'oh shit are we actually doing this'."
In November 2023, Kira and Lloyd had the operations.
Kira went into surgery first and was in there for two and a half hours and then Lloyd went in for his four-hour surgery.
As Lloyd was immunosuppressed, Kira asked if they could be placed on the on the same ward for support.
Lloyd said: "I have had hospital stays before and they are lonely.
"On a transplant ward, all recipients are immunosuppressed and can't have visitors.
"Having her there was good as I had someone who I could talk to and confide in."
Kira said: "I think we were both relieved that we came out of the other end of it.
"As soon as he saw me he burst into tears which was weird as I had never seen him cry before."
Lloyd and Kira are still in recovery but are both doing well.
Lloyd said: "The improvement in my life was almost immediate.
"The difference in my health from day one of the transplant is very good."
Lloyd Owen, 29, needed a transplant after a tumour in his neck caused irreversible damage to his kidneys.
Faced with her brother being on dialysis for life, twin sister Kira got tested and immediately offered to give him a kidney.
The op was a success and relieved Lloyd burst into tears when he saw his sister when they both woke up.
Usually, transplant patients don't get to see their family for a few days after the operation because they are kept in isolation, due to his weakened immune system.
But the pair were able to bunk up in the same ward at Derriford Hospital, Plymouth, and recover together.
Kira Owen, a supervisor, from Plymouth, said: "He said we could get tested but there was no pressure.
"I knew my chances of being a match were high so it was absolutely a no-brainer for me.
"When I found out I was a match I was so happy that I could help my brother but at the same time it was scary as I didn't know what to expect."
Lloyd, an event manager, from Plymouth, Devon, said: "It was a quick conclusion - Kira really wanted to do it.
"I was happy, I was relieved, but there was a lot of emotions regarding it - it was a big part of my life last year."
In 2015, Lloyd was hospitalised after he broke his kneecap.
Doctors then found that Lloyd had a tumour on his parathyroid glands - which produces a hormone that regulates calcium levels.
"My body was producing lots of calcium then realised it didn't need it and would deposit the calcium in my kidney which led to the damage," he said.
The tumour was removed in 2015 but it had already done damage.
In February 2023, Lloyd was told that he would either need a kidney transplant or would need to be on dialysis for life.
Kira went for general observations in July 2023 and went for a "full body MOT" in September before she was told she would be a match.
She said: "I was told I was a perfect match - I was scared but relieved that he was going to get help.
"It all happened very quickly. It was like 'oh shit are we actually doing this'."
In November 2023, Kira and Lloyd had the operations.
Kira went into surgery first and was in there for two and a half hours and then Lloyd went in for his four-hour surgery.
As Lloyd was immunosuppressed, Kira asked if they could be placed on the on the same ward for support.
Lloyd said: "I have had hospital stays before and they are lonely.
"On a transplant ward, all recipients are immunosuppressed and can't have visitors.
"Having her there was good as I had someone who I could talk to and confide in."
Kira said: "I think we were both relieved that we came out of the other end of it.
"As soon as he saw me he burst into tears which was weird as I had never seen him cry before."
Lloyd and Kira are still in recovery but are both doing well.
Lloyd said: "The improvement in my life was almost immediate.
"The difference in my health from day one of the transplant is very good."
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