1. < Transplants

Kidney transplant - process for being a living donor

Posted by lovelly2017 @lovelly2017, Feb 14, 2017

My son needs has end stage renal failure and need a kidney transplant. Iam a potential donor. I am really scared. I just did the bloodwork to see if iam a true match. Iam afraid of what the next process will be.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Transplants Support Group.

Mentor
Rosemary, Volunteer Mentor | @rosemarya | Feb 20, 2017
In reply to @uneeq1 "Hi @lovelly2017 - I recently donated a kidney to one of my friends. It's normal to..." + (show)
@uneeq1

Hi @lovelly2017 - I recently donated a kidney to one of my friends. It's normal to feel nervous and scared. Use the resources available at your hospital to discuss your concerns. The process took us almost a year, she was on dialysis prior to the procedure. I had the surgery three weeks ago and am still in the recovery stages. The feeling I get from helping her live live greatly outweighs my discomfort. I hope you are a match for your son! Keep us updated 🙂

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@uneeq1, Dear Lisa, Thank you for returning to Connect with your updated information. I wish you and your friend many more years of friendship and health.
I invite you to keep in touch with us.
Rosemary

REPLY
shbertrand | @shbertrand | Mar 31, 2017
In reply to @uneeq1 "Hi @lovelly2017 - I recently donated a kidney to one of my friends. It's normal to..." + (show)
@uneeq1

Hi @lovelly2017 - I recently donated a kidney to one of my friends. It's normal to feel nervous and scared. Use the resources available at your hospital to discuss your concerns. The process took us almost a year, she was on dialysis prior to the procedure. I had the surgery three weeks ago and am still in the recovery stages. The feeling I get from helping her live live greatly outweighs my discomfort. I hope you are a match for your son! Keep us updated 🙂

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Why did it take a year? I just sent my blood kit to Mayo for my sister. We are in our 60's. I was hoping we could do this before her daughter gets married in July so she would feel well. My sister is doing the fluid exchange. Thanks.

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Mentor
Rosemary, Volunteer Mentor | @rosemarya | Mar 31, 2017
In reply to @uneeq1 "Hi @lovelly2017 - I recently donated a kidney to one of my friends. It's normal to..." + (show)
@uneeq1

Hi @lovelly2017 - I recently donated a kidney to one of my friends. It's normal to feel nervous and scared. Use the resources available at your hospital to discuss your concerns. The process took us almost a year, she was on dialysis prior to the procedure. I had the surgery three weeks ago and am still in the recovery stages. The feeling I get from helping her live live greatly outweighs my discomfort. I hope you are a match for your son! Keep us updated 🙂

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@shbertrand, This is a good question. I want to welcome you and to thank you for asking it. I am a recipient, but I have no experience with living organ donation. While we wait for some more responses, I want to share this direct link to Living Donor information. http://mayocl.in/2lSxf7C There are materials for transplant recipients as well as living donors. I hope it is helpful.
Have you spoken to anyone at Mayo about this?
Rosemary

REPLY
Lisa S | @uneeq1 | Mar 31, 2017
In reply to @uneeq1 "Hi @lovelly2017 - I recently donated a kidney to one of my friends. It's normal to..." + (show)
@uneeq1

Hi @lovelly2017 - I recently donated a kidney to one of my friends. It's normal to feel nervous and scared. Use the resources available at your hospital to discuss your concerns. The process took us almost a year, she was on dialysis prior to the procedure. I had the surgery three weeks ago and am still in the recovery stages. The feeling I get from helping her live live greatly outweighs my discomfort. I hope you are a match for your son! Keep us updated 🙂

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It took a year because I have multiple arteries and we had to switch hospitals. The first transplant center said they couldn't do so we got a second opinion at the Indiana University transplant center. It took several months to get approved and scheduled, then I caught a bad cold and we had to reschedule for a month later.
They need to make sure both the donor and the recipient are in good health, so all of the tests take some time. It good be different at your transplant center. I wanted to go to Mayo because I know someone else who goes there and had her transplant there, but it was too far for the recipient. Having it done and recovering by July does not sound do-able to me, but talk to your coordinator!

Best of Luck!
Lisa

REPLY
Jamie Olson | @jamienolson | Apr 1, 2017
In reply to @uneeq1 "Hi @lovelly2017 - I recently donated a kidney to one of my friends. It's normal to..." + (show)
@uneeq1

Hi @lovelly2017 - I recently donated a kidney to one of my friends. It's normal to feel nervous and scared. Use the resources available at your hospital to discuss your concerns. The process took us almost a year, she was on dialysis prior to the procedure. I had the surgery three weeks ago and am still in the recovery stages. The feeling I get from helping her live live greatly outweighs my discomfort. I hope you are a match for your son! Keep us updated 🙂

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@shbertrand, I would like to also add a welcome to @rosemarya's. You have found a great place here on Mayo Clinic Connect, a community full of information, support and lots of advice from members who have experienced being a donor or recipient.

The page link that rosemary provided to you to the Living Donor information is filled with information and materials. Please let us know if you have further questions or if there is something specific you are wondering and unable to find on the page.

Please keep us updated along this process so others can also learn from what you share.

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