Transplant News and Events

FYI
There is an informal zoom support group for all pre and post transplant patients (and caregivers and supporters) that meets every Wednesday at 6pm Pacific time (9pm Eastern time). It is patient led by post transplant patients who share their experiences and tips for dealing with issues affecting transplant recipients and donors. Info and link below

WEDNESDAY NIGHT SUPPORT GROUP
TOMORROW NIGHT
MAY 15TH AT 6:00pm
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86563648331?pwd=lEwqdURY3jOvaJzeveqmx6r8aYYHXb.1

Thanks for posting this, @gratefulbob. I moved your announcement to the discussion titled:
- Transplant News and Events https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/transplant-events/

Can you tell people a bit more about the origins of the group? Who leads it? Is there a place to register for upcoming meetings? Do you have guest speakers or is it more like a coffee-hour exchanging experiences, tips and support?

BIG NEWS! A groundbreaking achievement in organ transplant was released today. Mayo Clinic has performed the first known total larynx transplant on a patient with active cancer. Read more about this amazing surgery and the unique position of the patient that allowed him to proceed with a transplant with an active cancer. Medical Milestone: https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/mayo-clinic-marks-medical-milestone-with-worlds-first-known-successful-total-larynx-transplant-performed-in-a-patient-with-an-active-cancer-as-part-of-a-clinical-trial/

This upcoming Thursday, July 18th at 12pm (AZ time) is the Phoenix Mayo Ask an MD support group event, with special guest, Dr. Elizabeth Carey. Dr. Carey is one of the transplant hepatologists, and she will be answering your questions about all things transplant and liver related.

Join Zoom Meeting
https://mchealth.zoom.us/j/523961121
Meeting ID: 523 961 121
**Passcode required: liver

This is a confidential space so please no recordings or pictures of the group. Please join the group in a quiet, private space.

@gratefulbob, This sounds like a very interesting and informative event.
I am guessing that it is for Mayo Phoenix patients, is that correct?

Do you plan to attend? Have you got a question for the Doctor?

Setting up to be a live altruistic kidney donor at Mayo Az. Original recipient decided she wanted a womans kidney. Go figure. Anyway here I am with a kidney all dressed up with nowhere to go. Is life insurance going to be an issue afterwards? I don't have it now and I told my kid just don't pick me up from the coroner when they call. But you know how family is. They want something to put on the shelf in a bottle. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you in advance.

@trooperdogg1960
What a wonderful, generous and kind person you are! A true hero! Someone will be very grateful to receive your kidney! I would recommend getting whole life or at least term life insurance now, because you may have difficulty later. Your kidney function should return to normal after a period of recovery from your donation, but life insurance can become hard to get if you have any kidney related issue. I would hope that donation would not prevent you from obtaining life insurance, but might be better to get it now just in case. I am a living donor kidney recipient. Thank you for being willing to give someone this precious gift!

@trooperdogg1960, Thank you for considering being a living kidney donor. Another term used for for altruistic donation is a Nondiret donation. Nondirected living donors are people who donate organs, usually kidneys, to people they don't know. The organs are given anonymously as gifts without expectation of something in return.

Here is what the National Kidney Foundation says about altruistic/nondirect kidney donation: "To donate to anyone, contact any transplant center." https://www.kidney.org/kidney-topics/becoming-living-donor
.
Here is information from Mayo Clinic:
- Nondirected living-donor transplant
https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/nondirected-living-donor/pyc-20384850
.
trooperdogg1960, Have you already filled out a living donor application form?

I also use the term non direct donor. However, my nurse coordinator from Mayo has informed me that Mayo refers to us as altruistic donors. I had never used that term when working with CORE Kidney UCLA. I can put you in touch with my nurse coordinator if you have questions as to why they corrected me when I referred to myself as non-directed/anonymous donor. I talk to them on Tuesday and will share your concerns.

I didn’t know there was such a distinction! My own liver and kidney came from an anonymous deceased donor. So that is really the limit of my experience.
You are in good hands at Mayo! I received my transplant at Mayo in Rochester MN. Celebrating 16 years in April!