Andrew Allen (left) and Thomas Thermidor (right). Image: Doug Haslam/Boston Arts Academy Foundation.
Andrew Allen, 53, worked night shifts at Boston Arts Academy, where he became friends with geometry teacher Tom Thermidor. When Thermidor revealed that his younger brother, Thomas, was suffering from stage 5 kidney failure and needed a transplant, Allen volunteered to become a donor. Thomas Thermidor was 21 and studying at Babson College when he began experiencing headaches and chest pains. Initially, he thought he might have Covid-19, but his condition worsened, leaving him struggling to breathe. His girlfriend urged him to seek medical attention, where blood tests revealed stage 5 kidney failure. After graduating from Babson College in May 2026, he joined Mass General Brigham’s development and philanthropy department. Boston Arts Academy recognised Allen during a National Custodian Day event on October 2, 2026.
He said he was grateful for the opportunity to give back to the hospital system that had helped him and hoped to carry out anonymous acts of kindness himself in the future. A Boston school custodian’s decision to donate a kidney to a stranger helped give his colleague’s younger brother a second chance at life. he proceeded with the donation through a kidney-exchange programme Although Allen’s kidney was not a direct match for Thomas. His kidney went to another patient, helping Thomas receive a compatible organ from an anonymous donor. More than a year after their surgeries, both men were doing well, and Allen’s extraordinary gesture earned him recognition as an unsung hero. The experience also influenced Thomas’s outlook on generosity. The celebration honoured the school’s custodial staff, with Allen receiving special recognition for his kidney donation. The ceremony brought Allen and the Thermidor family together to mark the impact of the donation. Their story also highlighted the contribution of school support staff, whose work often takes place outside the spotlight.