Living Kidney Donor Advice

Posted by Lisa S @uneeq1, Mar 22, 2016

Hello-
Is anyone there able to offer advice for a living kidney donor? I am in the
process of being approved to donate and I am having some unsettling
feelings about the recipient's choice of hospitals. She is a patient at
Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne, IN. I have never had anything done at this
hospital, but the facility seems to be a bit older than some. I looked at
their rate of success and it was only 84% compared to a national average of
over 90%. The transplant coordinator told me that they had a review team
come in and they changed some of their practices and that the number should
go up next time they publish. Should I be concerned about the facility? I
have a family member who had her transplants done at Mayo, so my confidence
is high for Mayo Clinic.
Thanks so much!

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

Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Mar 22, 2016

Hi @uneeq1, welcome to Connect.

I'd like to introduce you to @gregorytremblay who anonymously donated his kidney. You can read a bit more about him here https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/i-am-an-anon-kidney-donor-and-will-offer-advise-to-verify

Have you spoken to the recipient about her choice of hospital or is this an anonymous donation?

Gregory Tremblay | @gregorytremblay | Mar 22, 2016

In reply to @colleenyoung "Hi @uneeq1, welcome to Connect. I'd like to introduce you to @gregorytremblay who anonymously donated his..." + (show)

It was Anon. Trillium Ontario chose the location.

Lisa S | @uneeq1 | Mar 23, 2016

In reply to @colleenyoung "Hi @uneeq1, welcome to Connect. I'd like to introduce you to @gregorytremblay who anonymously donated his..." + (show)

I spoke to her a bit about the hospital choice last fall when we first talked about me donating. She is someone I know from being neighbors at the RV park we stay at in the summer, so it isn't anonymous. There are 500 people in my area waiting for a kidney and I know in larger metropolitan areas the number is in the thousands. I hope by donating it will show people that they can continue to live a normal life while helping to save someone else's.

Hello Gregory! Kudos to you!

Rosemary, Volunteer Mentor | @rosemarya | Jul 17, 2016

@uneeq1, I have not seen any posts from you recently, and I am wondering how you are doing? Have you been able to get answers to your questions about living kidney donation? I am a recipient of a beautiful liver and a beautiful kidney from a deceased donor. I will always treasure the gift of life. I want you to know that I feel honored when I am in the presence of someone, such as you, who is considering living kidney donation. Please know that you are providing hope to someone who is in need of a kidney transplant, just by your openness to the possibility of donation. I would be interested in hearing from you. Rosemary