Brotherly Love: Identical Twin Saves Sibling from Kidney Failure

Guest Bio: Bradley Warady, MD & Brian and Andrew Connor

Dr. Bradley Warady is the Senior Associate Chair for the Department of Pediatrics and Director, Division of Nephrology at Children's Mercy Kansas City. He is the first pediatric specialist to serve on the board of the National Kidney Foundation in the last decade and also serves as co-principal investigator for the Chronic Kidney Disease in Children (CKiD) study. It is the nation’s largest study of its kind including more than 2,000 children with CKD from around the world. CKiD has led to a number of significant findings and changes in the way children with CKD are treated.




Brian Connor, 20, was born with kidney disease. Declining kidney function, combined with the reduced effectiveness of two years of dialysis, made it clear a transplant was necessary. Brian received a donation from his identical twin brother in 2015. One year after the transplant, he’s weaned off immuno-suppressant medications. Brian is a junior at The University of Missouri-Columbia, where he’s pursing a major in Communications. He’s a member of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity. Brian is from Kansas City, Missouri. 

Andrew Connor, 20, was a perfect match for his identical twin brother, Brian. Andrew donated his kidney in 2015 with no adverse effects. Andrew is a junior at The University of Kansas, where he’s pursing a degree in economics, with a minor in mathematics. He’s a member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity, involved in the economics club and participates in intramural sports. Andrew is from Kansas City, Missouri.