Living Donor: It's a huge responsibility

Hi @fauneconner Here is the link to the Transplant Page and blog that @rosemarya referred to https://connect.mayoclinic.org/page/transplant/ It has valuable information about being a donor.

@fauneconner, Welcome to Mayo Connect. I apologize for the late welcome, but I have been out of town and off line. I am a liver/kidney transplant recipient. My donor was an anonymous deceased donor. His final gift, my gift of life, hade my past 8 years possible. I think that what you are doing, by stepping up to be tested as a potential donor for your own dear husband, is an act of love of the highest degree. I want you to know that I will be saying prayers for you and your husband on Oct. 9.
I think that I understand your concern. With transplant, there are many "What ifs" to be dealt with.
I am also extremely happy that you have met and connected with @lcamino. You two have a lot in common.
Rosemary

@fbgibbons672, I want to extend my hand in a delayed hello, and Welcome to Mayo Connect. I have read the wonderful replies that you have received already. I can only imagine your sister's excitement, and your own "fear" about the testing results.

It is my belief, that regardless of the testing results, you remain a hero, and a loving sister. I wish for the best possible results for your evaluation. Keep in mind that the whole reason for the testing is for the health of both your sister, and for you.

I want to share the following links with you about living organ donation. You might find some comfort and some similarities between you and the featured stories. You can click to open each one. Let me know if they were helpful for you.
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/newsfeed-post/meet-jolinda-grateful-living-donor-recipient/
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/newsfeed-post/kidney-paired-donation-and-the-mayo-experience/
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/newsfeed-post/meet-scott-brothers-bond-over-kidney-disease-transplant/
Please come back here, and let us know how your Mayo visit goes.
and
Let me know if I can be of help to you or your sister, anytime.
Rosemary

Thank you so much for all of this great information! My husband is in need of a kidney transplant and has already been tested and approved for the surgery. Our son is in the process of being tested to be a live donor for my husband. He has passed the blood tests and is scheduled for the final evaluations and tests the week of November 15th. My question is, is there a certain waiting time after all is approved for the surgery to happen? We'd love for surgery to be before the end of the year, but not sure if that is feasible? Any info would be greatly appreciated!

I think they told me if you have an approved living donor the surgery can be scheduled fairly soon depending on their surgery schedule. Maybe a month or so?? I am still completing a few more tests at home that the committee wanted me to do so my timeline has been slower. I spend the week of Oct 9 in Rochester doing all my donor testing. Now waiting on chest CT, pulmonary function test and a pulmonary consult based on old sarcodosis scars they saw on my chest xray. They are very thorough.

Thanks for your reply! That is very encouraging news and I'm sure we'll know more in a few weeks when my son actually has his appointments with the donor transplant team. We're all just very anxious for this surgery to happen with the hopes of a better life for my husband! Good luck on your continued journey!

@fauneconner, I want to personally say thank you for responding to @grammyx4 with your first hand information.
I hope that your testing and results will be positive.
Rosemary

@grammyx4, I want to extend a welcome to you for entering this Living Donor discussion. I am happy that you have already met one of our members, and have received a firsthand account of what she is experiencing.

Have you had the opportunity to view the Mayo Clinic Living Donor Page? You will find information about living kidney donation. There is a toolkit for the recipient and for the donor, as well as other resources.
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/page/transplant/tab/resource-35/
I understand your desire to get this surgery behind you. Regardless of the timeline that works for you, I pray that everything works out for your husband and son. You have got to be proud of your son for making this decision to help your husband. He already qualifies as a hero by my definition.
Rosemary

@grammyx4 that’s wonderful that progress is being made so quickly for your husband. You are fortunate to have such a loving son that he wants to do this for his father. I hope things will work out positively for him to be a donor.
JK

@fbgibbons672, I want you to know that I am thinking about you and your sister. I hope that both of you are doing okay. I also hope that you have gained some support by reading what others are saying as they are going through their own unique journey with kidney donation for a loved one.

Do you have any questions for us? If you are comfortable doing so, do you have any information that you would like to share with any of our other donor patients?
Hugs,
Rosemary