Brave Kildare comedian travelling to the States to undergo surgery that might save his brother's life

Kildare comedian Jarlath Regan is flying to the United States next week to undergo surgery that will help save the life of his brother and ultimately extend it by up to 30 years.

The 36-year-old's brother is critically ill at the moment and in desperate need of a kidney transplant to save his life, and brave Jarlath stepped forward to offer him one of his own, saying that he never had to think twice about it after finding out he was a match.

His brother has suffered from a condition that has led to the deterioration of his kidney ever since his childhood, and it has worsened in recent years. Regan told the Eoghan McDermott show on 2fm about his brother's condition.

"Basically what he's had is two flat tires for most of his life, two kidneys that aren’t producing a chemical that can help him regulate calcium in his body. They are essentially a set of batteries that are running down. He's at a critical level so I guess we saw it coming along way off," said Regan.

"I was always aware that there would possibly come a day when the question would be put, and when it was put I flew over to Rochester in Minnesota and I was as good a match as he could hope to find. His kidney function was down to 15 and normal is 85. There is no known reason why, considering the number of pints I've drank over the course of my life, but my kidney function is well over 100. So he's going to be rocket-powered by the time he gets this.

Regan is well-known for his work on The Irishman Abroad podcast, and the Curragh raised comedian explained what might happen if his brother's body cannot accept his kidney.

The comedian, who presents the popular podcast The Irishman Abroad, said Irish people need to be more open about organ donation, which is an potion often skirted around.

"If the organ fails, he won't be stuck. In the States there is an organ donor network over there. Even though his wife isn't a proper match for him, her plan should this not work, her plan is to donate her kidney to someone on the network who needs it, and in exchange find someone who suits him. There are people walking in off the streets in the States who are saying 'I am a healthy human being, I hear you need kidneys, have mine'. Those people have the true hearts of gold."