Ma'ake Kemoeatu, a former nose tackle of the Baltimore Ravens, retired from professional football in order to donate his kidney to his younger brother, Chris, a former Pittsburgh Steelers lineman.

Chris has had kidney troubles since he was in the eighth grade. However, he disregarded it and grew up to be a 385 pound lineman for the Pittsburgh Steelers. He would win two Super Bowls with the Steelers, one in 2005 and another in 2008.

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Even when he was in the National Football League (NFL), he was still in pain; one that continued to worsen.

The 2011 season ended with a loss to the Greenbay Packers in the biggest stage of them all. Chris would then retire from professional football due to the unbearable pain of his kidney.

Ma'ake subsequently quit just a year after, in order to be with his brother.

In 2013, Chris spoke with nephrologist Dr. Matthew Weir. Weir told Chris that he had an advanced kidney disease and would need to have a transplant.

Initially, their father wanted to be the one to donate. However, after arguments, Ma'ake eventually became the donor.

"I'm the oldest of seven kids so it was my responsibility to take care of my younger brothers and sisters," Ma'ake said.

In order to go through with the surgery, both brothers had to lose weight. Chris had a hard time because of his disease and had to go through dialysis.

After a year of losing weight, the doctors found that Chris had heart problems. They went in for heart surgery in June, and six weeks after, transferred Ma'ake's kidney.

Dr. Stephen Bartlett did the surgery and said that Ma'ake's was one-and-a-half times bigger than any other kidney he has ever seen.

The surgery went as planned and both brothers are on the road to healthy recovery.

While it is unsure if Ma'ake will be returning to professional football, there is hope in the fact that linebacker of the Cleveland Browns, Paul Kruger, plays with only one kidney.

However, for now, the brothers want to spend more time with their family, in their home town of Hawaii. 

TagsMa'ake Kemoeatu, Chris Keomeatu, Baltimore Ravens, Pittsburgh Steelers, Kidney