1. < Transplants

Kidney transplant - The Journey from the Donor's Side

Posted by mauraacro @mauraacro, Jan 2, 2018

I'm headed to Rochester on the 10th for surgery on the 12th. I'm excited and nervous! I didn't know the recipient but have gotten to "meet" her and some of her daughters through phone calls and emails.
I've had labs done at my doctor's office and went to Mayo a few weeks ago for a million more tests. My case was presented to the donor board a few days before Christmas and I was approved and notified the same day. It seems like everything took so long and now is going so fast.
I'm interested in hearing from donors but haven't had a lot of luck. It seems like the recipients are the ones who post the most, which gives me some info and reassurance but it would be nice to hear from the other side too.

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

Donna N | @donnan | Jun 14, 2018
In reply to @cehunt57 "@beckyjohnson & @mauraacro I’m an organ recipient so maybe I shouldn’t weigh in here (deceased donor..." + (show)
@cehunt57

@beckyjohnson & @mauraacro I’m an organ recipient so maybe I shouldn’t weigh in here (deceased donor pancreas transplant). Now I’m waiting on a kidney transplant. I don’t know when and where it will come from. I’m listed, but am also looking for a living kidney donor. I am so grateful for my pancreas transplant. I had the opportunity to send a letter to the donor family to thank them, tell them about myself and extend an invitation for some follow up contact. This was done through a coordinator/social worker. I never got any response back. I’m just saying most recipients would like to meet &/or know something about the donor. It must be comfortable & agreeable for everyone involved. Mayo has so much experience with every kind of scenario I’m sure they will sort it out in the proper time and way for everyone’s best interest. What you are trying to do and have done is a tremendous thing. Thank you.

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It is because of you, other living donors and deceased donors that I have been given a new life. I haven’t heard back from my donors family. I do pray for them every day but I would love to meet them. Maybe someday.

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mauraacro | @mauraacro | Jun 14, 2018
In reply to @mauraacro "@beckyjohnson I had labs sent to my home in November and went to Mayo for evaluation/testing..." + (show)
@mauraacro

@beckyjohnson I had labs sent to my home in November and went to Mayo for evaluation/testing in December. Surgery was Jan 12 and I was back to work on the 29th, so it is possible. It could have been shorter but because of holidays & my schedule the evaluation was delayed a few weeks. I got some routine things out of the way before I went for the that trip. Routine was yearly exam, mammogram, colonoscopy & flu shot.

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@beckyjohnson I did have those done before I went for the full evaluation but they were due anyway, (had been procrastinating) so I went in under my insurance.
I'm not positive but I think I could have done them under the recipient's insurance if it wasn't something covered under my regular well check/preventative care plan. @onecentwalsh may be able to tell you how insurance work as an altruistic donor.
When you decide to become a donor, you are taken great care of. Every part of you is checked out, tested, retested. You will be given information about things you didn't even know you had questions for. Very few of your exams or tests relate to the recipient. They are all for you to make sure that you know what's going on, don't have any reservations, can handle surgery well and will live a long life with 1 kidney.

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Mentor
Rosemary, Volunteer Mentor | @rosemarya | Jun 14, 2018
In reply to @mrasmith15 "Thank you all for the great information! I'm so glad I found this site & group!..." + (show)
@mrasmith15

Thank you all for the great information! I'm so glad I found this site & group! It's so nice to hear how everything is doing on the donor end. I am now officially a living kidney donor for my husband! I had my evaluation the first week of March and we found out last week. We haven't set a surgery date yet but we anticipate it will be this summer.

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I recently met one of our members while I was at Mayo for my annual checkup! We were in a waiting room and chatting when she recognized me from my teeny picture! ...So it is always a possibility that you might see someone.
Safe travels to all of you.
Rosemary

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mrasmith15 | @mrasmith15 | Jun 15, 2018
In reply to @mrasmith15 "Thank you all for the great information! I'm so glad I found this site & group!..." + (show)
@mrasmith15

Thank you all for the great information! I'm so glad I found this site & group! It's so nice to hear how everything is doing on the donor end. I am now officially a living kidney donor for my husband! I had my evaluation the first week of March and we found out last week. We haven't set a surgery date yet but we anticipate it will be this summer.

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I can't figure out how to "Like" anyone's post! So thank you to everyone! @mauraacro @rosemarya @beckyjohnson

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jeanne5009 | @jeanne5009 | Jun 15, 2018
In reply to @mrasmith15 "Thank you all for the great information! I'm so glad I found this site & group!..." + (show)
@mrasmith15

Thank you all for the great information! I'm so glad I found this site & group! It's so nice to hear how everything is doing on the donor end. I am now officially a living kidney donor for my husband! I had my evaluation the first week of March and we found out last week. We haven't set a surgery date yet but we anticipate it will be this summer.

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After spending 4 days at Mayo Jax for my evaluation, I am waking up this morning still in awe of the magnitude of care given there. Disneyworld for the sick!
Everyone was so nice..like they were born on a different planet... I had a multitude of tests completed during those days along with superior educational classes and interviews with specialists to determine my status.
Our accommodations at the Holiday Inn Express were excellent. It was clean quiet and friendly. They had a full breakfast and evening happy hour with cheese and crackers and a variety of drinks. They also had a shuttle to Mayo which was only 10 minutes away. Definitely our home port for short stays.
I will share more as I can. My daughter is coming from NJ on Sunday and we are going to daytrip to Mayo for the last appointments on Monday.
It's an exciting an anxious time of my life...but I know I am doing the right thing and am in the best hands.
Everything happens for a reason.......carry on.....

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Donna N | @donnan | Jun 15, 2018
In reply to @mrasmith15 "Thank you all for the great information! I'm so glad I found this site & group!..." + (show)
@mrasmith15

Thank you all for the great information! I'm so glad I found this site & group! It's so nice to hear how everything is doing on the donor end. I am now officially a living kidney donor for my husband! I had my evaluation the first week of March and we found out last week. We haven't set a surgery date yet but we anticipate it will be this summer.

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Your in good hands

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jeanne5009 | @jeanne5009 | Jun 16, 2018
In reply to @donnan "Health insurance determines where I live. I spent almost 51 years with brittle type one diabetes..." + (show)
@donnan

Health insurance determines where I live. I spent almost 51 years with brittle type one diabetes thus insurance wasn't fun. Since my one year anniversary of my transplant I had to move across the country to now be seen at JAX Mayo. I'm 62. Will be checking in with the transplant insurance department at Mayo 6 months prior to my 65th birthday. They will guide me as to which insurance includes them. Next I check out the plans to figure out which is best for prescriptions. You need to stay 5 steps ahead and that's time consuming but well worth it. I have found the JAX Mayo transplant - department to be absolutely wonderful.

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@donnan I have United Healthcare dual option planMedicare Advantage plan. It has worked 100% for me during my pursuit of liver transplant .
The Social worker team at Mayo Jax is superb. Hope your research brings good results.

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Mentor
Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Jun 16, 2018
In reply to @mrasmith15 "Thank you all for the great information! I'm so glad I found this site & group!..." + (show)
@mrasmith15

Thank you all for the great information! I'm so glad I found this site & group! It's so nice to hear how everything is doing on the donor end. I am now officially a living kidney donor for my husband! I had my evaluation the first week of March and we found out last week. We haven't set a surgery date yet but we anticipate it will be this summer.

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@mrasmith15

If you want to "Like" someone's post, just click on the "Heart" underneath the word "Reply" that will show up as a "Like." Teresa

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beckyjohnson | @beckyjohnson | Jun 16, 2018
In reply to @mrasmith15 "Thank you all for the great information! I'm so glad I found this site & group!..." + (show)
@mrasmith15

Thank you all for the great information! I'm so glad I found this site & group! It's so nice to hear how everything is doing on the donor end. I am now officially a living kidney donor for my husband! I had my evaluation the first week of March and we found out last week. We haven't set a surgery date yet but we anticipate it will be this summer.

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@mrasmith15 To like a post just touch the heart under the reply tab. Your screen will lighten for a couple of seconds then the heart turns dark. When the heart doesn't change you just wait until another time

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beckyjohnson | @beckyjohnson | Jun 16, 2018
In reply to @mrasmith15 "Thank you all for the great information! I'm so glad I found this site & group!..." + (show)
@mrasmith15

Thank you all for the great information! I'm so glad I found this site & group! It's so nice to hear how everything is doing on the donor end. I am now officially a living kidney donor for my husband! I had my evaluation the first week of March and we found out last week. We haven't set a surgery date yet but we anticipate it will be this summer.

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@rosemary That is so cool. It would be an honor to cross paths with members from Mayo Connect. That takes connect to an entirely new level

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