Australian radio presenter Emma Chow has been married to Enzo Lisbona for 11 years, with the couple raising two young sons together. Their relationship, which began with an unexpected live radio proposal, has now entered a profoundly difficult period as Lisbona faces advanced chronic kidney disease.
Chow recently shared the family’s situation publicly on her 2DayFM Breakfast program in August 2026. She revealed that her husband urgently needs a kidney transplant and that she is undergoing medical testing to find out whether she could become his living donor.
The announcement gave listeners an unusually personal insight into the family behind the radio personality.
How They Met
Emma Chow and Enzo Lisbona have built their relationship largely away from the celebrity spotlight.
Their romance became particularly memorable because Lisbona chose a very public way to ask an important question.
In February 2015, he proposed to Chow live on air during an “Honesty” segment on her former program, Mike E & Emma, which aired on The Edge 96.1.
The surprise proposal became an unforgettable moment in Chow’s radio career and marked the beginning of a new chapter for the couple.
Their Wedding
Chow and Lisbona subsequently married and have now been together as husband and wife for 11 years.
Unlike the proposal, which unfolded in front of a radio audience, much of their married life has remained private.
The couple have focused on raising their family while Chow continued developing her career in Australian radio.
Their relationship has now faced circumstances far more serious than the ordinary pressures of work and family life.
Their Children
Emma and Enzo have two sons, Valentino and Raphy.
Valentino was born in March 2018, while Raphy arrived later.
The boys are still young, and Chow has generally kept their lives away from the constant attention that can accompany a public-facing career.
Motherhood has nevertheless been an important part of Chow’s life alongside her work in broadcasting.
The family’s circumstances became much more difficult during 2026.
Enzo’s Health
In August 2026, Chow revealed that Lisbona is living with advanced chronic kidney disease.
His condition has progressed to the point where a kidney transplant is urgently needed. Rather than discussing the situation privately, Chow decided to explain what her family is experiencing to listeners.
She also revealed that she is being evaluated as a potential living kidney donor.
That means doctors are determining whether Chow is medically suitable and compatible enough to donate one of her kidneys to her husband.
Her announcement emphasized the seriousness of the situation while also showing the extraordinary lengths she is prepared to consider for her family.
A Difficult Year
The health crisis has not been the family’s only devastating experience in 2026.
Chow also revealed that she and Lisbona unexpectedly lost both of his parents shortly after Easter.
The combination of bereavement and Enzo’s worsening illness has made the year particularly painful for the family.
For Chow, speaking publicly about those experiences appears to have been less about publicity and more about explaining why her personal circumstances have changed so dramatically.
The Donor Testing
Chow’s decision to undergo testing does not mean that she has already been confirmed as a donor.
Living kidney donation involves extensive medical assessment. Doctors must determine whether a potential donor is healthy enough for surgery and whether the transplant would be medically appropriate for the recipient.
Compatibility is only one part of the evaluation.
Chow has therefore entered a process that could take time, with medical specialists making the final decisions about whether donation is possible.
Her willingness to be tested demonstrates the seriousness of the situation, but the outcome remains uncertain.
Her Radio Career
Chow has developed a substantial career in Australian radio, working across several programs before becoming part of the 2DayFM Breakfast lineup.
Her broadcasting career has included entertainment, celebrity interviews, personal stories and listener-focused segments.
That experience also helps explain why she chose to discuss such a difficult personal matter on air. Radio has long been a medium through which presenters build intimate connections with their audiences.
In this case, Chow allowed listeners to understand the circumstances affecting her family rather than simply explaining an absence or change in her professional routine.
A Private Family
Despite Chow’s public career, her relationship with Lisbona has generally remained separate from the entertainment-news cycle.
The live proposal in 2015 was an exception.
The couple have otherwise spent years raising Valentino and Raphy without making their family life a constant feature of Chow’s broadcasting persona.
The recent health disclosure therefore represents a significant change. It has brought Lisbona and their family circumstances into the public conversation at a moment when privacy would naturally be important.
The immediate priority for Chow and Lisbona is Enzo’s medical care and the search for a suitable kidney donor.
Chow’s testing will determine whether she could potentially donate one of her kidneys, but no final outcome has been announced.
For now, the couple are navigating an uncertain period while caring for their children and dealing with the loss of Lisbona’s parents.
Their story began with a playful live radio proposal more than a decade ago. Today, their marriage is being tested by a serious health crisis that has changed everyday life for their entire family.
Chow’s decision to share the reality of Enzo’s condition has also highlighted the deeply personal side of a broadcaster whose professional life is usually centered on entertainment and conversation.
As of August 2026, the family remains focused on treatment, donor testing and supporting one another through an extraordinarily challenging chapter.
