Westmead Hospital performs exceptionally rare robotic surgery enabling wife to save husband

Fewer than 250 Australians receive a kidney from a living donor each year — and even fewer from their spouse. Now, Westmead Hospital has completed one of the nation’s rarest kidney transplants surgeries, changing life forever for Alex and Nicole Russo.

Under the watchful eye of Westmead’s Dr Howard Lau and Dr Jinna Yao, the robotic surgery technique was used for a living kidney transplant for the first time in an Australian public hospital.

Kellyville’s Nicole and Alex Russo are thrilled to have made history in an extraordinary gesture of love and sacrifice – 39 year old Nicole donated one of her kidneys to husband Alex.

Alex, 43 years old, was diagnosed with Wegener granulomatosis, a rare autoimmune disease when he was in his early twenties. This condition led to his impaired kidney function, and a future of dialysis or transplant likely.

Despite receiving this life-changing news at such a young age, Alex was determined to live a full life and to not let his diagnosis get in the way.

"Sometimes life gives you challenges but it's how you respond in a positive way to the challenges that help you get through them. There are always worse off people out there, and you need to always be grateful for the life you have been given," 

Alex said.

After the pair met at a mutual friend's Christmas party, they began to date and within 3 months had bought a house together.

Luckily for Alex, Nicole was his match in more ways than one.

Alex was upfront about his medical condition and that one day would need a transplant but had no idea it would be his wife who would offer him this vital lifeline.

The pair began investigations into living organ donation in late 2024 where they first met Dr Jinna Yao at Westmead Hospital.

“Alex had advanced kidney disease when I first met him,” Dr Yao said.

“Since then, it's been a long journey for he and his family. Living donation is one of the most powerful and most humbling things that we can see in medicine. Alex and his wife, Nicole, have two young daughters, and every decision was made with them in mind.”

The decision for both parents to undergo surgery at the same time was not one the couple rushed into.

"It definitely wasn't a decision we made lightly. We let the doctors guide us and once we both passed all the medical testing, to move forward with it all. 

“We decided we had our health and fitness on our side and this was the best way we could keep being a family, hoping to make many more memories together, and both be there to watch the kids grow up,” said Alex. 

The couple send their gratitude to Dr Gowri Raman, Dr John Li, Transplant coordinator Renan Gaspi, Professor Henry Pleass, Professor Germaine Wong, Dr Jinna Yao, Professor Howard Lau and Dr Sumedh Jayanti. 

“We are eternally grateful to Westmead Hospital and every one of the medical professionals there. The Renal surgical team, nurses and staff in A6a and A6c at Westmead were absolutely amazing. Thanks  for looking after us so well and getting us home safely to our girls,” 

added Nicole. 

Nicole and Alex’s story had an impact on everyone around them. For Dr Yao, the Russo’s were great candidates for a robotic surgical approach.

“For the patients, this means less pain, less blood loss, smaller incisions, faster recovery, shorter hospital stay, and basically this allows people to get back to life sooner,” Dr Yao said.

With two young girls nervously waiting for their mum and dad to come home from the hospital, the Russo’s jumped at the opportunity.

After nearly 18 months of preparation and tests, the double surgery was performed on February 18, 2026, the day after the couples eighth wedding anniversary.

The organ retrieval and transplant were a success, though there is a long road ahead.

The pair are now embarking on their healing journey, side by side, as they enter life’s next chapter.

For Dr Yao, the Russo’s story is one to remember. 

“It's incredibly humbling to be able to participate in something like this, because to witness the courage of Alex and the generosity of Nicole, and for them to place such enormous trust in us, it reminds me of why we do the work that we do,” Dr Jinna Yao. 

The Russo’s are passionate advocates for living-organ transplant and encourage everyone to take a moment to consider organ donation.

"Living donation was the most incredible thing I have ever done for another human being, and being one I love so much, makes it even more special. I highly recommend anyone who gets the all clear to be a living donor to go for it," said Nicole. 

"We strongly encourage everyone to register as an organ donor and make your wishes clear to your loved ones, because there are so many people on that waiting list. It truly is such a beautiful and special thing to allow your organs to go on to help others live,” said Alex. 

“I am so blessed to have received a kidney from my selfless wife, it’s life changing and – God willing – will be a long life ahead together.”