Former Washington Wide Receiver Josh Morgan Donates a Kidney to His Brother

Former Washington wide receiver Josh Morgan proved that he would do anything for family.

After suffering from kidney disease, Morgan's brother Daniel was in need of a kidney transplant in March –– in the middle of a global pandemic.

While the number of major surgeries have dropped significantly in the months since the pandemic began and few people wanted to be near hospitals if they didn't have to, Josh knew he wanted to be a match for his little brother.

He watched his brother suffer from the disease for years, requiring dialysis three times a week for four hours each.

"It's one of those situations, as a big brother, when you're always the protector," Josh said. "You're like: ‘God, just give me the pain. Don't make him go through it.' It was like he was deteriorating. All of his energy was just gone. It was like watching him grow into an old man overnight."

While their father Dennis was a health match, the doctors wanted someone younger, so Josh stepped up.

"People thought I was crazy, but I just always considered myself the sacrificial lamb for my family," said Josh, who has a 6-year-old son, Josh Jr. "He needed that kidney. And if my son ever needed a kidney, too, then he's going to have mine and you're just going to put me to sleep. That was just always my mentality…It was scary for me because I couldn't imagine life without my brother."

On March 26, Daniel woke up from surgery with a new kidney feeling better than ever. Now, he has three kidneys because the procedure attaches a healthy one without removing the non-functioning ones.

After playing two seasons with Washington and six years in the league, Josh became an entrepreneur, started his own business and has done some acting, coaching and mentoring as well. While Josh is down to one kidney, he will be able to live a normal, healthy lifestyle with his brother by his side.

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