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 | Apr 26, 2020

I wasn't sure where to post this, there still isn't a ton of info for donors out there and I haven't seen it addressed.
Are organ donors considered high risk for viruses & flu? I don't think we're high risk for contacting it but would it affect treatment making it more dangerous for us?
I am healthy and taking precautions but with things starting to open up, I expect to be back to work soon (Yay!) and more people out & about.

REPLY
1 reply
Mentor
Ginger, Volunteer Mentor | @gingerw | Apr 26, 2020
In reply to @mauraacro "I wasn't sure where to post this, there still isn't a ton of info for donors..." + (show)
@mauraacro

I wasn't sure where to post this, there still isn't a ton of info for donors out there and I haven't seen it addressed.
Are organ donors considered high risk for viruses & flu? I don't think we're high risk for contacting it but would it affect treatment making it more dangerous for us?
I am healthy and taking precautions but with things starting to open up, I expect to be back to work soon (Yay!) and more people out & about.

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@mauraacro Good question! You might want to check with the medical team you worked with, for their thoughts on this. There is also a group discussion in the COVID-19 group for transplant patients, and there may be some donors there, also https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/covid-19-in-transplant-patients/
My own thoughts run towards keeping yourself safe, and follow the protocol you would normally, however that means to you. Would you let us know what the medical team says, please?
Ginger

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Mentor
Cheryl, Volunteer Mentor | @cehunt57 | Apr 27, 2020

@mauraacro & @gingerw my daughter is a living kidney donor (to her Grandpa in 2003). She is a biologist working in some research capacity at Mayo in Rochester, MN. She told me that being a donor does not make her more likely to contract the virus, but if she did, it could be VERY bad. The virus effects lungs & diminishes oxygen to the body. When vital organs (Kidneys) aren’t getting oxygen they will shut down. If you only have 1 kidney, this presents an increased concern. Mayo is diligently working on triage/testing plus working on developing a vaccine and researching possible treatments. My daughter sent pictures of construction of testing facilities set up in parking lots across the street from her office where she usually works. She is working from home now. My SIL works in bio mechanical engineering at Mayo. He is working from home too. They have taken turns going into work during off times when fewer people are around. Mostly they are doing everything they can to stay safe and protect my daughter’s one kidney.

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2 replies
mauraacro | @mauraacro | Apr 27, 2020
In reply to @cehunt57 "@mauraacro & @gingerw my daughter is a living kidney donor (to her Grandpa in 2003). She..." + (show)
@cehunt57

@mauraacro & @gingerw my daughter is a living kidney donor (to her Grandpa in 2003). She is a biologist working in some research capacity at Mayo in Rochester, MN. She told me that being a donor does not make her more likely to contract the virus, but if she did, it could be VERY bad. The virus effects lungs & diminishes oxygen to the body. When vital organs (Kidneys) aren’t getting oxygen they will shut down. If you only have 1 kidney, this presents an increased concern. Mayo is diligently working on triage/testing plus working on developing a vaccine and researching possible treatments. My daughter sent pictures of construction of testing facilities set up in parking lots across the street from her office where she usually works. She is working from home now. My SIL works in bio mechanical engineering at Mayo. He is working from home too. They have taken turns going into work during off times when fewer people are around. Mostly they are doing everything they can to stay safe and protect my daughter’s one kidney.

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Thank you for the info.
The transplant nurse didn't offer much besides practice social distancing and stay away from anti inflammatory meds. I'm not sure if that's all the info available or if it's because I'm not sick and have passed my 2 year mark so not covered by Mayo anymore.
It's difficult to find information on this or any virus when I search for results using "kidney donor" or "1 kidney" because the results are geared toward kidney disease or the process of donation. I am pretty awful at The Google though.
I will proceed cautiously and continue to be grateful that I am healthy.

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Mentor
Rosemary, Volunteer Mentor | @rosemarya | Apr 28, 2020

@mauraacro, It is wonderful to hear from you. Proceeding cautiously is, in my opinion, a healthy choice for each one of us. As the current restrictions are being lifted, I expect that we might be hearing from more organ donor about this question. So, thank you for bring up the question.

Have you seen this discussion - From a Living Donor: One year later, what is your life like now? @mauraacro, Would you post your question again in it? I think it will be seen by more of the living donors.
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/a-post-donation-check-in-one-year-later/

REPLY
1 reply
Mentor
Rosemary, Volunteer Mentor | @rosemarya | Apr 28, 2020
In reply to @cehunt57 "@mauraacro & @gingerw my daughter is a living kidney donor (to her Grandpa in 2003). She..." + (show)
@cehunt57

@mauraacro & @gingerw my daughter is a living kidney donor (to her Grandpa in 2003). She is a biologist working in some research capacity at Mayo in Rochester, MN. She told me that being a donor does not make her more likely to contract the virus, but if she did, it could be VERY bad. The virus effects lungs & diminishes oxygen to the body. When vital organs (Kidneys) aren’t getting oxygen they will shut down. If you only have 1 kidney, this presents an increased concern. Mayo is diligently working on triage/testing plus working on developing a vaccine and researching possible treatments. My daughter sent pictures of construction of testing facilities set up in parking lots across the street from her office where she usually works. She is working from home now. My SIL works in bio mechanical engineering at Mayo. He is working from home too. They have taken turns going into work during off times when fewer people are around. Mostly they are doing everything they can to stay safe and protect my daughter’s one kidney.

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Thank you, @cehunt57, for sharing your unique account from your daughter.

REPLY
mauraacro | @mauraacro | Apr 29, 2020
In reply to @rosemarya "@mauraacro, It is wonderful to hear from you. Proceeding cautiously is, in my opinion, a healthy..." + (show)
@rosemarya

@mauraacro, It is wonderful to hear from you. Proceeding cautiously is, in my opinion, a healthy choice for each one of us. As the current restrictions are being lifted, I expect that we might be hearing from more organ donor about this question. So, thank you for bring up the question.

Have you seen this discussion - From a Living Donor: One year later, what is your life like now? @mauraacro, Would you post your question again in it? I think it will be seen by more of the living donors.
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/a-post-donation-check-in-one-year-later/

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Thanks Rosemary, I'll post it over there

REPLY
nicolej | @nicolej | Jul 19 11:02am
In reply to @beckyjohnson "@coquifoife 20 years wow. That is music to my soul. As an altruistic donor it is..." + (show)
@beckyjohnson

@coquifoife 20 years wow. That is music to my soul. As an altruistic donor it is a beautiful thought that my kidney may enhance the quality of someone & their loved ones for decades. You sharing this gets me excited & hopeful. To tell the truth not everyone in my circle support my decision to literally give my body parts to some stranger & I certainly prefer to know my kidney recipient.

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Ya, it is part of being an altruistic. Altruistic is harder. It is hard for people to get on board when they can't see the good and they may never see the good, and all they see is risk and inconvenience.

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1 reply
Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Jul 25 2:21pm
In reply to @nicolej "Ya, it is part of being an altruistic. Altruistic is harder. It is hard for people..." + (show)
@nicolej

Ya, it is part of being an altruistic. Altruistic is harder. It is hard for people to get on board when they can't see the good and they may never see the good, and all they see is risk and inconvenience.

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Hi @nicolej, I'd like to add my welcome. I see you've posted in a few different discussions about organ donation. Are you a donor? Are you interested in becoming a donor?

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