The bond between brothers is known to be remarkably strong, and some siblings share a deep connection that transcends words. In the case of Brandon and Derek Lash, their bond went beyond words and into the realm of life-saving generosity.
On Brandon’s 25th birthday, his younger brother Derek surprised him with an incredible gift. Brandon had been suffering from kidney failure since he was just 23 years old, and he had lost hope of finding a donor.
Their parents, Beth and Steve Lash of Pennsylvania, had both undergone testing to determine if they were compatible donors, but they were heartbroken when they discovered that they were not a match.
Derek made the decision to get tested to see if he could be a compatible donor to save his brother’s life. After learning that he was a perfect match, Beth and Derek arranged for the ultimate surprise birthday gift for Brandon.
The brothers have always had an extremely close bond, having grown up leading an active lifestyle and supporting each other through thick and thin.
“Brandon and Derek have always been close,” Beth said. “My hopes and dreams for my boys have always been for them to be happy, healthy and kind and to always stay true to their heart. I think their brother bond will get even stronger, if that’s even possible.”
In December 2017, the family gathered in their living room to celebrate Brandon’s birthday. As Brandon opened a giant birthday card, his brother Derek stood behind him, and Brandon began to read the card out loud.
“I’m so thankful to have you as a brother, you have always been there for me, even though I get on your nerves sometimes. You will always have a piece of my heart, now you will have my kidney, too. We are a perfect match.”
Upon receiving the birthday card, emotions overflowed in the room, and Brandon was moved to tears of happiness. His brother Derek’s act of selflessness had left him genuinely stunned. Donating a kidney is a challenging and arduous process for a donor, and undergoing surgery and recovery is no small feat.
After Beth shared the emotional video of her family’s announcement on her Facebook page, she was surprised to see it go viral. The video has been viewed by millions of people from all over the world, and many have left supportive comments.