July 13 is the date! I get to donate.

Posted by ek101085 @ek101085, Jul 2, 2021

If you journey back a few pages on this discussion board, you will see my first post that was in 2019 looking for information on the first steps of applying to be able to donate my kidney to my sister.

June 30, 2021, 2 years and 2 Living Donor evaluations, 2 transplant board approvals, and 1 pandemic later, I finally got the confirmation of a scheduled surgical date. 7/13/2021.

If anyone has any pre/post op info they wish they would have, please feel free to share. Very much appreciated.

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

Congratulations! I’m a liver transplant person, it’ll be one year in August. My best recommendations to you and your sister is to be as healthy as possible prior to surgery, mask up, sanitize, walk (if your sister is able), eat well. And, continue this practice after surgery. Your sister will be on a lot of meds, it’s vital that she strictly follow the guidelines from her providers on taking these. And, she needs to be mindful of foods and supplements that can interact with the meds.

There is a fabulous show on Netflix that follows a transplant doctor, the first woman to perform a liver transplant. And, it interweaves with a family where a daughter is donating part of her liver to her mom. It’s a short series called the Surgeon’s Cut, episode 3, Living Donor.

There are other discussions on the Transplant Group that discuss being a donor, you may benefit from those. Best wishes!

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@ek101085, This is fantastic news!! You and your sister have managed to accomplish a monumental journey with so many hurdles to overcome. July 13th will be a grand day for the both of you.
I want to bring @danhoe, @mauraacro, @tasher3433, @sameeh123, into this discussion because they are all kidney donors who can share their pre and post transplant experiences with you.

I also want to share the transplant discussion - Donated my Kidney: May 20, 2020
You will be able to meet and read @danhoe's kidney donor experience. Your questions and comments are welcome.
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/wed-may-20-20-kidney-donation/

Here is a Discussion where @mauraacro took it upon herself to share her kidney donor experience from the hospital. It is a remarkable act of kindness on her part to do this to help others on their journey.
Kidney transplant - The Journey from the Donor's Side
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/kidney-transplant-from-the-donor-side/

What is your biggest concern as you get closer to surgery?

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Exciting, @ek101085!

For anyone interested in the first part of EK's journey, please see this discussion

- Living Donor Process: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/living-donor-process/

EK, how are you spending your time between now and surgery on July 13?

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@rosemarya

@ek101085, This is fantastic news!! You and your sister have managed to accomplish a monumental journey with so many hurdles to overcome. July 13th will be a grand day for the both of you.
I want to bring @danhoe, @mauraacro, @tasher3433, @sameeh123, into this discussion because they are all kidney donors who can share their pre and post transplant experiences with you.

I also want to share the transplant discussion - Donated my Kidney: May 20, 2020
You will be able to meet and read @danhoe's kidney donor experience. Your questions and comments are welcome.
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/wed-may-20-20-kidney-donation/

Here is a Discussion where @mauraacro took it upon herself to share her kidney donor experience from the hospital. It is a remarkable act of kindness on her part to do this to help others on their journey.
Kidney transplant - The Journey from the Donor's Side
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/kidney-transplant-from-the-donor-side/

What is your biggest concern as you get closer to surgery?

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Such useful information. I've been spending so much time going over it. I still can't believe it is finally happening its so surreal.
Even with all the research and information I've reviewed for myself as the donor I can't help but be concerned and worry about my sister and her recovery. I just want this to work and help her!

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What a wonderful gift you are giving to your sister. I pray for steady, knowledgeable and comforting hands from the Doctors and Nurses. That you both have safe and healthy healing after.

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Blessings to you and your sister as you journey transplant together. I was an altruistic donor of my kidney a year ago in May. If you have any questions, I am willing to try to answer from my experience.

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@ek101085

Such useful information. I've been spending so much time going over it. I still can't believe it is finally happening its so surreal.
Even with all the research and information I've reviewed for myself as the donor I can't help but be concerned and worry about my sister and her recovery. I just want this to work and help her!

Jump to this post

@ek101085, I think it is normal for you to be concerned. I commend you for your patience, research, and for reaching out to meet others who have had a transplant experience before you. On Connect we call patients with experience, "Experts by Experience". Please know that you are welcome to ask any of our patient experts any question, anytime. If you want to direct a question or make a comment to a particular individual, use their @name so that they can get a notification.

Do you live near your sister? Are you able to be with her during the next week?

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@rosemarya

@ek101085, I think it is normal for you to be concerned. I commend you for your patience, research, and for reaching out to meet others who have had a transplant experience before you. On Connect we call patients with experience, "Experts by Experience". Please know that you are welcome to ask any of our patient experts any question, anytime. If you want to direct a question or make a comment to a particular individual, use their @name so that they can get a notification.

Do you live near your sister? Are you able to be with her during the next week?

Jump to this post

@ek101085, I found another discussion for you.
Transplants >Living Donor Kidney surgery next Tuesday: Any advice?
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/living-donor-kidney-surgery-next-tuesday/

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@rosemarya

@ek101085, I think it is normal for you to be concerned. I commend you for your patience, research, and for reaching out to meet others who have had a transplant experience before you. On Connect we call patients with experience, "Experts by Experience". Please know that you are welcome to ask any of our patient experts any question, anytime. If you want to direct a question or make a comment to a particular individual, use their @name so that they can get a notification.

Do you live near your sister? Are you able to be with her during the next week?

Jump to this post

@rosemarya We both luckily live in the Twin Cities, so not too far from the Rochester Mayo location. We will be spending most of the day before pre ops together.

It is finally setting in that it is finally happening.

Thanks to everyone for the well wishes and support. Makes the entire process of this whole journey easier.

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@ek101085

@rosemarya We both luckily live in the Twin Cities, so not too far from the Rochester Mayo location. We will be spending most of the day before pre ops together.

It is finally setting in that it is finally happening.

Thanks to everyone for the well wishes and support. Makes the entire process of this whole journey easier.

Jump to this post

I am so very happy happy for you both! You will never be alone. The folks at Mayo Connect have your back, and if the don’t have answers, they find them for you🥰

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