A man who donated a kidney to his brother has said it was a 'kneejerk reaction' to save him.
Seven years ago, John Reynolds was at death's door with a kidney failure diagnosis.
He was so ill he had to move back in with his parents so that they could care for him.
His brother Ed was the donor who saved his life.
John told The Pat Kenny Show he realised he had a problem when he collapsed in college in 2014.
"I was living on the campus and I collapsed, and went back in for bloods and bits and pieces," he said.
"I was called out to my doctor in Ratoath to be told: 'Listen, you're going to need a kidney transplant'.
"When I was diagnosed you go into the denial... I hooked up with the Irish Kidney Association - they have a course for chronic illness.
"I went in and the advice that I got from fellow patients was 'Stay off the dialysis as long as you can because after the transplant sometimes it causes complications'".
'I want to go forward'
John was then put on the list for a donation, and his family were tested - with both his sister and brother testing positive for a match.
"Ed and Paula came up with a match and Ed said 'I want to go forward'", he said.
"Fair play to end, he jumped on board, he came in to the last part of my journey.
"I remember I hadn't that much energy to say thanks - I was so, so exhausted.
"I was sleeping 24 hours".
The transplant started about nine months later.
"To me it was a kneejerk reaction," Ed said.
"I rang John straight away and I said 'If I can help out, I'd love to step forward'.
"I think it was a year on, a year and a few days, we were in the hospital and the procedure was happening.
"It's something that you feel that you want to do to save your brother."
'I prepared myself'
Ed said the process also reassured him about his own health.
"I go in fighting fit... and when I came out the other side, the first few days, I was in pieces.
"I was expecting that, I knew that would be the case, so I prepared myself for it.
"Whereas John had a kidney that was fully functioning and he was getting his energy back.
"I can't stress how relatively easy it is to get over something like this.
"Two days later, I walked to the nearest shop to get something - so you're though it.
"It was reassuring for me, that I was fit and healthy, to be matched and paired for donation.
"It gives you a sense of relief in that you're obviously strong and well enough to step forward."
The two brothers are appealing to people to "open up the conversation about organ donation - it shouldn't be a taboo.
"It's something everyone should have a chat about, whether it's ever needed or not, just to see what their points of view would be," Ed added.
