Boston custodian honored for donating kidney to help teacher’s brother
A custodian at a Boston school was honored in a ceremony for donating his kidney to help save the life of a teacher's brother, according to the school.
The Boston Arts Academy honored Andrew Allen on National Custodian Day for his donation to help the brother of Thomas Thermidor, a teacher at the academy.
"This celebration was about more than recognition; it was about making sure the people who do so much behind the scenes know that they are seen, valued, and appreciated," the Boston Arts Academy Foundation wrote in a social media post.
Allen received the "Unsung Hero Award" at last week's ceremony, where he and Thermidor embraced in front of the ceremony's attendees, video footage by ABC News' Boston affiliate WCVB showed.
Though Allen's kidney was found not to be a match for Thermidor's brother himself, Allen was still eager to make the donation to move him up on the transplant list and help someone else, Tyrone Sutton, head of Boston Arts Academy, told ABC News.
Thermidor's brother now has a new kidney, and both he and Allen have recovered from their surgeries, according to Sutton.
"He's extremely loved by our staff for his generosity," Sutton said of Allen. "He goes way out of his way to do great acts of kindness for our students and staff."
Thermidor and Allen met on the fifth floor of the school and have grown close over the years, so when Allen heard Thermidor's brother needed help, he sprang into action, Sutton said.
"Today, we celebrated the power of service, generosity, and community," Boston Arts Academy said in its post.
"With all of the upheaval in the world, I think [Allen is] just a reminder of the good that is still out there," Sutton said. "I think more people like him, to do what he's doing, will hopefully bring more good into the world."
