Brandon Looney, a singer and MC based in Brooklyn, was living an active lifestyle when his health took a sudden and devastating turn in 2023. He started to experience concerning symptoms while performing, including loss of vision, swelling of his hands and feet, nausea, and extremely high blood pressure.
Looney, 33, went to the emergency department and was diagnosed with end-stage kidney failure caused by atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome, a rare disease that severely reduced his kidney function to just 6 percent. In May 2023, Looney began dialysis while undergoing the long process of getting on the kidney transplant list.
During that time, he produced and starred in a show called I Still Feel Alive to raise awareness about kidney donation. This led Looney’s co-worker CJ Jimenez, an aerial performer and stage manager, to offer to donate. “It meant a lot to Brandon that I was the one to reach out and offer,” said Jimenez. “Obviously it’s a lot to ask of someone, to give them an organ, but I told him I wanted to help if I could.” They were a direct match.
Dr. Lee zhao with the da Vinci Robot
Credit: NYU Langone
At NYU Langone, Jimenez, 32, underwent a trailblazing kidney transplant procedure, one that has changed how living kidney donors recover by making the process safer, less painful, and faster. Reconstructive surgeon and urologist Lee C. Zhao, MD, professor in the Department of Urology and the Hansjörg Wyss Department of Plastic Surgery at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, and transplant surgeon Jeffrey Stern, MD, removed the right kidney in a robotic surgery through one small opening in Jimenez’s lower abdomen in August. NYU Langone is one of the only institutions in New York City that can remove the kidney with one incision instead of multiple.
Jimenez was able to return home the same day—a stark contrast to traditional kidney transplant surgeries for living donors, where patients typically stay at the hospital overnight or for several days.
“This minimally invasive technique significantly reduces discomfort for donors compared to traditional methods, allowing for quicker recovery. The exact placement of the single incision, and the angle of the robotic arm allow us to remove the donor kidney with great precision,” said Dr. Zhao. “Being a living kidney donor will only become easier and more accessible as robot-assisted donor surgeries become increasingly common.”
Once Jimenez’s kidney was removed, Bruce E. Gelb, MD, a transplant surgeon at NYU Langone Transplant Institute and vice chair of quality in the Department of Surgery, successfully performed the transplant to Looney. “This procedure is a perfect example of how the NYU Langone Transplant Institute is innovating with technology to better serve patients,” said Dr. Gelb. “In collaboration with Dr. Zhao, we have performed 15 kidney donation surgeries this year using the robotic techniques.”
The donor surgery and transplant took place on August 25. After their surgeries, Jimenez was able to greet Looney before going home to recover.
Courtesy Jimenez
After the surgeries, Jimenez and Looney were able to reunite and say hi, and they are now both recovering and getting back to their regular routines. The two recently met up for the first time since the surgery. “On the other side, I had no working kidneys,” Looney said. “And now, I have one and my life is completely changed.”
Jimenez and Looney both hope that by sharing their experiences, they can help raise awareness about living kidney donation and encourage more people to consider it. To learn more, visit the National Kidney Registry and NYU Langone’s Kidney Transplant Program.
Media Inquiries
Casey Nicholl
Phone: 646-983-4920
Casey.Nicholl@nyulangone.org
