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Memphis assistant Robert Kirby donates a kidney to his sister

robert-kirby

Robert Kirby’s mother died of lupus 17 years ago, so when the Memphis assistant coach was given a chance to save his sister from the disease, he didn’t hesitate.

Kirby donated a kidney to his sister on Tuesday, a procedure which likely saved her life.

“My mother wouldn’t allow us to donate,” Kirby told Andy Katz of ESPN.com. “She said she lived her life. She didn’t want any of us to do that. This was my sister, and it was never a question mark if I would, but it was ‘Could I?’”

Kirby went through the litany of tests needed to determine whether or not he was a match. He found out in July and donated the organ this week.

That’s a tremendous act, one that I’m sure many of this blog’s readers could relate to. If one of your loved ones needed a kidney, would you hesitate to donate?

Kirby will be laid up for a couple of weeks but he should be able to return to the team before the season begins.

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