Living Donor: It's a huge responsibility

Posted by fbgibbons672 @fbgibbons672, Sep 11, 2017

I am a match for my sister's kidney transplant and will be heading to Mayo next month for evaluation. My sister has told everyone she knows about me, even refers to me as her "kidney mama". I understand she is excited and I am as well, but now I wonder how I will feel if I don't "pass" and she has to continue her waiting and dialysis. Its a huge responsibility and a huge honor to be able to do this, but.....

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@airsky21

I am a living donor the transplant was March 15, 2016
I did not know the recipient at the time. She was a very sick woman and has since had a new lease on life. I feel incredibly grateful to be part of this miracle. My health is great my recovery was great, I was sore of course and it took time to heal but i would do it all over in a heartbeat.

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@airsky21, Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect.
I am a volunteer mentor, and recipient of a liver and kidney (2009) from an anonymous deceased donor. I will remember his generosity every day of my life, and I make taking care of myself my top priority as my way to honor him. I would not be alive with out the miracle of his gift of life. I only tell you that so that you will understand how sincere I am when I say, "Thank you and God Bless, you" for the miracle that you have participated in.
Thank you for sharing your beautiful experience.

If you are comfortable in doing so, would you tell us what led your decision to become a living kidney donor?
Rosemary

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@hkvanhouten

I donated a kidney to my sister in August 2015. We are both doing great. Our family (my father's side) is affected by polycystic kidney disease (PKD) so many family members have undergone transplants mostly living donor. Besides a donor I have been on the caregiving side too as my husband had a living donor kidney transplant (2010) followed by a pancreas transplant (2015). He is now insulin free!

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@hkvanhouten, I want to welcome you to Mayo Clinic Connect. I am a volunteer mentor, and a recipient of a combined liver/kidney transplant from an anonymous deceased donor. Thank you for joining this discussion. And thank you for sharing your experience as a living donor.
May God continue to bestow His blessings on you and your family.
Rosemary

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When my brother was diagnosed with end stage renal failure I thought I should see if I would qualify as a donor. Less than 10 months later I was diagnosed with end stage renal failure, different reasons. He had a live donor, a friend of his wife, I did not. He died this last year, I'm still alive. Living with a different life style was not high on his list of things to do. Living with a different live style was and still is important to me to keep the kidney happy. Good luck.
mlmcg

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@fauneconner

I know what you are feeling. I am scheduled to go to Mayo in Rochester the week of Oct 9 for testing. I am hoping to be a donor for my husband and have all these fears about not passing. We are the same blood type so that is a plus. Just have to leave it in God's hands and the capable people at Mayo.

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No need to be same blood type. They can cross-match.

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I am 12 years post pancreas transplant and currently waiting for a kidney transplant (past 2 years). I am listed on UNOS, but am also looking for a living kidney donor. Today I came across this group on Mayo Connect. I want to say that the donation/transplant process involves a roller coaster of emotions for the potential recipients & donors alike. My own experience is that my 1st transplant 12 years ago came from a deceased donor after a miraculously short wait of 2 weeks. Now after 2 years waiting & looking, only 1 living kidney donor stepped up. It was my daughter. Our blood types, crossmatch/tissue typing was fine. We were both so hopeful. She went off to Mayo in Rochester, MN for donor evaluation the week of Thanksgiving. She ended up deferred for a variety of reasons and claims that she was told that she is an unsuitable donor. She was devastated and angry! I was disappointed but also concerned for my daughter and grateful that Mayo was looking out for her well being. My daughter feels like she was thwarted in doing something she desperately wanted to do and I still don't have any living donor prospects. I realize that Mayo has a stellar reputation for excellence in Transplantation and I've seen how they treat each case/situation individually not just like a number or statistic. So in the meantime I'm trying to pray and wait patiently, take as good a care of myself as I can (so I stay transplant ready) and trust that the best plan for me will unfold at the proper time.

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@hkvanhouten

I donated a kidney to my sister in August 2015. We are both doing great. Our family (my father's side) is affected by polycystic kidney disease (PKD) so many family members have undergone transplants mostly living donor. Besides a donor I have been on the caregiving side too as my husband had a living donor kidney transplant (2010) followed by a pancreas transplant (2015). He is now insulin free!

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@hkvanhouten, I saw this article on Mayo's newsfeed a couple of months ago. Since you have mentioned family history of PKD, I wanted to share it with you.
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/champions/newsfeed-detail/?link_id=10571

Thanks for sharing your husband's remarkable success.
Rosemary

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@mlmcg

When my brother was diagnosed with end stage renal failure I thought I should see if I would qualify as a donor. Less than 10 months later I was diagnosed with end stage renal failure, different reasons. He had a live donor, a friend of his wife, I did not. He died this last year, I'm still alive. Living with a different life style was not high on his list of things to do. Living with a different live style was and still is important to me to keep the kidney happy. Good luck.
mlmcg

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@mlmcg, I am sorry to hear about the loss of your brother.
I wish you continued strength and adherence to your new healthy lifestyle. May you be blessed with many years with your happy kidney.
Thank you for encouraging all of us who share your journey to keep our new organs happy.
Rosemary

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@cehunt57

I am 12 years post pancreas transplant and currently waiting for a kidney transplant (past 2 years). I am listed on UNOS, but am also looking for a living kidney donor. Today I came across this group on Mayo Connect. I want to say that the donation/transplant process involves a roller coaster of emotions for the potential recipients & donors alike. My own experience is that my 1st transplant 12 years ago came from a deceased donor after a miraculously short wait of 2 weeks. Now after 2 years waiting & looking, only 1 living kidney donor stepped up. It was my daughter. Our blood types, crossmatch/tissue typing was fine. We were both so hopeful. She went off to Mayo in Rochester, MN for donor evaluation the week of Thanksgiving. She ended up deferred for a variety of reasons and claims that she was told that she is an unsuitable donor. She was devastated and angry! I was disappointed but also concerned for my daughter and grateful that Mayo was looking out for her well being. My daughter feels like she was thwarted in doing something she desperately wanted to do and I still don't have any living donor prospects. I realize that Mayo has a stellar reputation for excellence in Transplantation and I've seen how they treat each case/situation individually not just like a number or statistic. So in the meantime I'm trying to pray and wait patiently, take as good a care of myself as I can (so I stay transplant ready) and trust that the best plan for me will unfold at the proper time.

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@cehunt57, I feel your rollercoaster of emotions. It is a very real path for a lot of transplantees, so we do understand. I am sorry that your daughter will not be eligible to be a donor and I imagine how disappointing that is for the both of you. I have met others who also felt the extreme disappointment at their inability to donate a kidney to a loved one. You are absolutely correct about Mayo's reputation, and how the patient's (in this case, your daughter) best interest is always the #1 priority. In my opinion, she will always be a hero because of her willingness to donate.
Patience, Prayers, and Hope are what I want for you as the best plan unfolds for you. One slow step at a time is still progress.
Hugs, Rosemary

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@cehunt57

I am 12 years post pancreas transplant and currently waiting for a kidney transplant (past 2 years). I am listed on UNOS, but am also looking for a living kidney donor. Today I came across this group on Mayo Connect. I want to say that the donation/transplant process involves a roller coaster of emotions for the potential recipients & donors alike. My own experience is that my 1st transplant 12 years ago came from a deceased donor after a miraculously short wait of 2 weeks. Now after 2 years waiting & looking, only 1 living kidney donor stepped up. It was my daughter. Our blood types, crossmatch/tissue typing was fine. We were both so hopeful. She went off to Mayo in Rochester, MN for donor evaluation the week of Thanksgiving. She ended up deferred for a variety of reasons and claims that she was told that she is an unsuitable donor. She was devastated and angry! I was disappointed but also concerned for my daughter and grateful that Mayo was looking out for her well being. My daughter feels like she was thwarted in doing something she desperately wanted to do and I still don't have any living donor prospects. I realize that Mayo has a stellar reputation for excellence in Transplantation and I've seen how they treat each case/situation individually not just like a number or statistic. So in the meantime I'm trying to pray and wait patiently, take as good a care of myself as I can (so I stay transplant ready) and trust that the best plan for me will unfold at the proper time.

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@cehunt57 I am so sorry for the disappointment that you and your daughter have suffered. I guess there must be many things beyond blood type that allow a person to be a viable donor. I hope you find another donor, or get a kidney from a deceased donor sometime soon. I know how hard the wait is.
JK

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@cehunt57

I am 12 years post pancreas transplant and currently waiting for a kidney transplant (past 2 years). I am listed on UNOS, but am also looking for a living kidney donor. Today I came across this group on Mayo Connect. I want to say that the donation/transplant process involves a roller coaster of emotions for the potential recipients & donors alike. My own experience is that my 1st transplant 12 years ago came from a deceased donor after a miraculously short wait of 2 weeks. Now after 2 years waiting & looking, only 1 living kidney donor stepped up. It was my daughter. Our blood types, crossmatch/tissue typing was fine. We were both so hopeful. She went off to Mayo in Rochester, MN for donor evaluation the week of Thanksgiving. She ended up deferred for a variety of reasons and claims that she was told that she is an unsuitable donor. She was devastated and angry! I was disappointed but also concerned for my daughter and grateful that Mayo was looking out for her well being. My daughter feels like she was thwarted in doing something she desperately wanted to do and I still don't have any living donor prospects. I realize that Mayo has a stellar reputation for excellence in Transplantation and I've seen how they treat each case/situation individually not just like a number or statistic. So in the meantime I'm trying to pray and wait patiently, take as good a care of myself as I can (so I stay transplant ready) and trust that the best plan for me will unfold at the proper time.

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I’ve had the same situation- happen to me. And like yourself I am doing everything possible to find another living donor. I believe that when the timing is right -
Everything will go forward. Best Regards - Denise

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