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.

mauraacro | @mauraacro | Jan 6, 2019
In reply to @hopefulgirl "stella25 I am so blessed to be healthy and to be able to do this. I..." + (show)
@hopefulgirl

stella25 I am so blessed to be healthy and to be able to do this. I only found out a year ago there was such a thing as a "non-directed" donation. I wonder how many others would donate if they knew it didn't have to be for a specific person (friend/relative). In some ways I'd love to share this process on f
Facebook to encourage others but mostly I don't want to do this for accolades or attention, so in a way it feels kind of private.

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@hopefulgirl I completely understand what you mean!
I'm not too social and don't really like attention but want to post online, put up signs and tell everyone I walk past that they may be walking around with the perfect kidney for someone! I haven't quite figured out how to do it with the focus on the message rather than myself.
I think posting it is important to get the word out. Maybe talk about the process, how to sign up, what's involved?

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Mentor
Ginger, Volunteer Mentor | @gingerw | Jan 6, 2019
In reply to @hopefulgirl "mauraacro thank you for your response. I know this is all in God's timing so I..." + (show)
@hopefulgirl

mauraacro thank you for your response. I know this is all in God's timing so I will work on being patient. I need to be back to work by the first week of April, so mid to end of February would definitely be good. I'm going to go back and read all of your posts. It is great to be able to connect with others who are or have gone through this process.

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@hopefulgirl Thank you, from the wife of a kidney transplant patient, for your generosity. If you Haven't been in contact, consider communicating with UNOS [United Network for Organ Sharing]. I don't know where you are located but they may be able to have you as a volunteer, to be an ambassador of sorts for living donor programs. It is thanks to you that a greater percentage of those needing organs can have a better chance for a second chance!
Ginger

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1 reply
marvinjsturing | @marvinjsturing | Jan 7, 2019
In reply to @jodeej "@marvinjsturing People put requests on Facebook. I've seen stories of people running races with shirts on..." + (show)
@jodeej

@marvinjsturing People put requests on Facebook. I've seen stories of people running races with shirts on or putting up billboards saying someone they knew needing a donor. When people at our church found out my husband needed a donor we head people from there asking and I had a cousin and a friend from high school offer.
Get it out there and a living donor may be found.
Blessings,
JoDee

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@jodeej @contentandwell I've been praying about a donor for a while. Last Wednesday, I posted on Facebook that I was looking for a donor. I received a message this morning from someone who is willing to donate a kidney. Thanking God for answered prayers.

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3 replies
stella25 | @stella25 | Jan 7, 2019

@marvinjsturing That is fantastic! So happy for you. Hope they are the perfect match:-)

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JK | @contentandwell | Jan 7, 2019
In reply to @marvinjsturing "@jodeej @contentandwell I've been praying about a donor for a while. Last Wednesday, I posted on..." + (show)
@marvinjsturing

@jodeej @contentandwell I've been praying about a donor for a while. Last Wednesday, I posted on Facebook that I was looking for a donor. I received a message this morning from someone who is willing to donate a kidney. Thanking God for answered prayers.

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@marvinjsturing I hope the donor will be a good match for you. Keep us informed please. You must be beyond ecstatic.
JK

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1 reply
marvinjsturing | @marvinjsturing | Jan 7, 2019
In reply to @contentandwell "@marvinjsturing I hope the donor will be a good match for you. Keep us informed please...." + (show)
@contentandwell

@marvinjsturing I hope the donor will be a good match for you. Keep us informed please. You must be beyond ecstatic.
JK

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@contentandwell I don't think it's sunk in yet. It doesn't seem real at this time. I have been communicating with her through Messenger because she was at work. She will be home tomorrow night and I will be able to call her. Nothing can happen before June 5. That is the 5 year anniversary of my cancer surgery. If everything works out, things will start happening in the summer. It is very exciting!

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1 reply
jodeej | @jodeej | Jan 8, 2019
In reply to @marvinjsturing "@jodeej @contentandwell I've been praying about a donor for a while. Last Wednesday, I posted on..." + (show)
@marvinjsturing

@jodeej @contentandwell I've been praying about a donor for a while. Last Wednesday, I posted on Facebook that I was looking for a donor. I received a message this morning from someone who is willing to donate a kidney. Thanking God for answered prayers.

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@marvinjsturing that is so exciting! I hope that he/she is able to donate to you. What a blessing!
JoDee

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Mentor
Ginger, Volunteer Mentor | @gingerw | Jan 8, 2019
In reply to @marvinjsturing "@jodeej @contentandwell I've been praying about a donor for a while. Last Wednesday, I posted on..." + (show)
@marvinjsturing

@jodeej @contentandwell I've been praying about a donor for a while. Last Wednesday, I posted on Facebook that I was looking for a donor. I received a message this morning from someone who is willing to donate a kidney. Thanking God for answered prayers.

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@marvinjsturing Wow, that is great news! I hope that she can start the testing process now, so everything is ready to go come summer. Happy dancing here, for you!
Ginger

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Mentor
Rosemary, Volunteer Mentor | @rosemarya | Jan 8, 2019

I know that some of you are not on Facebook, so I thought I would share this. I just saw it on the Mayo Clinic Transplant FB Page!

- Kidney donor now on mission to help save even more lives
https://www.news4jax.com/news/kidney-donor-now-on-mission-to-pay-it-forward-help-save-more-lives?linkId=62048033
For FB users - https://www.facebook.com/MayoClinicTransplant

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3 replies
Mentor
Ginger, Volunteer Mentor | @gingerw | Jan 8, 2019
In reply to @rosemarya "I know that some of you are not on Facebook, so I thought I would share..." + (show)
@rosemarya

I know that some of you are not on Facebook, so I thought I would share this. I just saw it on the Mayo Clinic Transplant FB Page!

- Kidney donor now on mission to help save even more lives
https://www.news4jax.com/news/kidney-donor-now-on-mission-to-pay-it-forward-help-save-more-lives?linkId=62048033
For FB users - https://www.facebook.com/MayoClinicTransplant

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@rosemarya That is an awesome story! There should be "Do Something" chapters all across the country!
Ginger

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