← Return to The Need for Living Kidney Donors

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@cehunt57

Thanks everybody for your responses to my comments. I find it peculiar that I keep getting referred to the Living Donor Toolkit and the Recipient Toolkit information because the information in there is what prompted my comments in the first place. As a person in need of a kidney transplant I read everything I can to help my cause and pass the information on to potential donors. It is really frustrating when potential donors asking for information are told something different or contrary to other information they've already seen or read from the same source. It isn't confidence inspiring for potential donors to feel like they can't get consistent, straight answers and it is devastating for recipient candidates to see their potential donor pool shrink with each of these conflicting bits of information. Let me give an example. From the Donor Toolkit "there's no age cutoff for living kidney donation". My cousin was told 80. lcamino's mother was told "80 is too old". kquick says 70's may be considered for related living kidney donors and 60's for unrelated living kidney donors. I have other examples but I'm starting to get bummed out. I can only imagine how hard it is for people to consider living organ donation and reliable information is important.

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Replies to "Thanks everybody for your responses to my comments. I find it peculiar that I keep getting..."

@cehunt57, Well your story does sound very frustrating. I recommend choosing a transplant center, obtaining their information personally (in person or via phone) from the staff, and sticking with that. If you have met with a transplant team I would think they would walk you through the process. Now I'm saying that and I'm a year or two out from getting a kidney transplant so this is simply a recommendation. Best of luck, and most importantly, DON'T GIVE UP!

@cehunt57, I think can understand your frustration of being referred over and over to the living donor toolkit. I ask you to keep in mind that on Mayo Connect, we are not medical professionals and we do not have the authority or even the knowledge to give you specific answers that you are seeking. I encourage you to talk to your transplant team at Mayo. They are fabulous people.

Keep in mind, too, that each patient is unique, and each patient has individual needs that can only be address by your own transplant team. Sometimes the answers are not what we want to hear - from my own personal experience. It is okay to engage in conversation, ask questions, get answers from them.

I wish you a successful journey.
Rosemary