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Ways to Advertise: How Did you Find a Kidney Donor?

Transplants | Last Active: Jan 27, 2022 | Replies (13)
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@dianafrenza

Hi Rosemary,

Thank you for your response. I am 51 years of age, and the medications I have been taking for depression 30 years ago have affected my kidneys. I have been seeing a Kidney Specialist for about 10 years, and she has been closely monitoring my Creatine levels. They have been stable but I always knew I had 30% of my kidney functioning. As of 2020 I now have 16% of my kidneys functioning, and if I don't get a transplant donor and reach 11% I will have to get dialysis. I tried to reach out to family and friends but I do not know about the UNOS organ transplant. Where about are they located? I live in Canada, Hamilton. Where about do you live and is UNOS organ transplant all parts of the world? My Kidney Specialist recommends that I find a donor ASAP, but I am not on the UNOS list. Also, I thought one could wait many years before getting a donor?

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Replies to "Hi Rosemary, Thank you for your response. I am 51 years of age, and the medications..."
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Jan 10, 2022

Diana, As a resident of Ontario, Canada, you will find the information you are looking for on the Trillium Gift of Life website: https://www.giftoflife.on.ca/en/

Another helpful website is the Ontario Renal Network https://www.ontariorenalnetwork.ca/en

This webpage explains how kidney transplantation works in Ontario.
https://www.ontariorenalnetwork.ca/en/kidney-care-resources/living-with-chronic-kidney-disease/about-transplantation
The Kidney Foundation of Canada offer tips here on how to find a donor https://kidney.ca/Kidney-Health/Living-With-Kidney-Failure/How-to-Find-a-Living-Kidney-Donor#

Diana, have you been referred to one of Ontario’s 6 transplant hospitals? Have you told family and friends that you may need a living donor?

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Rosemary, Volunteer Mentor | @rosemarya | Jan 10, 2022

@dianafrenza, Your kidney specialist is being proactive by telling you that it is time to start looking for a living kidney donor. This is called a pre-emptive transplant because it will prevent the need for dialysis while waiting for a decease donor kidney.
I live in Kentucky and got my transplant at Mayo MN. In the US, Organ transplants are managed by the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) so it is natural that you are not familiar with it. I did some searching and I found the Canadian Transplant Registry is managed by the Canadian Blood Services. This is something that your kidney specialist will know about. I also want to tag @colleenyoung to this discussion as she is familiar with the Canadian system.
https://profedu.blood.ca/en/organs-and-tissues/interprovincial-organ-sharing-programs
When a patient can get a living donor, the time to wait for a transplant is shortened and you won't have to wait for years and you can avoid dialysis.
If there is any chance to avoid dialysis, you will want to do so. Here is a video about Reasons to be a Living Donor that you and your family/friends will find beneficial.
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/blog/transplant/tab/resource-36/#ch-tab-navigation
In US when a patient needs a transplant, they are referred to a transplant center where they are evaluated and tested to be sure they are healthy enough to have a transplant surgery. The transplant doctors take over the care and guide and direct the transplant process.

How does it work in Canada? Has your kidney specialist referred you to a transplant center? When is your next appointment?

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