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What is the Living Donor Process Like?
Transplants | Last Active: Aug 9, 2021 | Replies (119)Comment receiving replies
I would love get an update about you experiences, and to welcome anyone who is considering living organ donation to share their experience and/or their questions.
@jdcowle5, I am thinking about you and I commend you for your willingness to consider being an organ donor. I am aware that the evaluation is very thorough, and can be lengthy and can result in either being eligible or not. Regardless of the result, you are a hero for what you are doing. Were you able to proceed to evaluation? I am interested in any update that you have to share.
@ek101085, I am interested in hearing from you. Have you received any update regarding your organ donation to your sister? If you are not a match for her, has there been any mention of being part of a donation chain?
@elevinton, How are you? Were you able to proceed with your surgery?
@marvinjsturing, I am thinking about you as you continue your journey toward your own organ transplant. I salute you for your positive attitude and I always welcome your input. I hope that your path is remaining smooth.
@mauraacro, @jolinda, @cmael - Do you want to share any updates? Do you have any suggestions to offer to anyone who is considering living donation?
I also want to invite @rebekahinvt .
Replies to "I would love get an update about you experiences, and to welcome anyone who is considering..."
I am coming up on my 2 year anniversary of surgery.
Mayo sent the box of lab work on Monday to complete and ship back. My blood draw was in Portland, OR on Thurs morning, I Fed X'd it to Mayo and had the results in my inbox Friday at noon. I am equally impressed by the speed of things Mayo does as I am by the fact that I had an organ removed with very little effect on my body and no negative effect on my health.
I checked in with the recipient and all is well from her side too!
To anyone considering organ donation- This was one of the best choices I have ever made and if possible, I would do it again.
No matter how far you make it in the evaluation process, you will have more information about living donation than most people and can use that information to encourage others to consider donation.
A year ago last August, I was tested and approved for a kidney transplant at Mayo. Because of my history of pancreatic cancer, I was placed on the inactive list. I made it known that I was in need of a kidney. Two people offered to be living donors. The first one was disqualified because of medication she was on. The second one, my sister, filled out the online questionnaire and was scheduled for testing in late June. In early June, I went to Rochester for a PET scan. At that time, I met the final requirement of being cancer free for 5 years and was placed on the active list for a transplant. A few days later, my sister was diagnosed with Mantel Cell Lymphoma, a rare kind on non-hodgkin's leukemia. (She has now completed her chemo and is currently scheduled for a stem cell transplant in January. This cancer is not curable, but the transplant is being done to help extend the time she is in remission.) At this time, I am not aware of anyone working on becoming a living donor. I am scheduled to go to Nebraska Medicine in Omaha in January to be tested to see if I can be placed on their transplant list. The wait list at Mayo is currently 3 - 7 years and the wait list at Nebraska Medicine is currently 1 - 3 years.
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Hello!
I was fully approved as an organ donor in July.
Because of the rare disease and all the options and preconditioming that may or may not need to be completed before an actual transplant can take place, we are still awaiting to hear when a surgery may be scheduled.
My sisters case is complicated and the waiting game is a tough one, especially when she continues to get worse.
Hopefully 2020 will be our year.