Young Mother Needing a Kidney

@yas8826, I want to say "Hi" and welcome to Connect. I can understand your desire to avoid dialysis and commend you for being an advocate for your health. I am a transplant recipient, and when I received my liver and kidney 17 years ago, did not have the option of a living donor. I am happy that medicine had advanced so that you have the benefit of this amazing life giving opportunity!
Since you asked where to start, my response is to say you should consult with and examined by a kidney transplant center. However, it sounds like you are interested in learning about where to get started with information about the living donor process. Here is some information that might get you started as members have shared how they searched for donors.
-Request Suggestions: How did you find a living donor? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/living-donor-request-suggestions/
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Transplant: Living Donors
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/blog/transplant/tab/resource-36/
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Are you being referred to, or are you beeni seen by a transplant center?
What are some questions you want to ask?

Hello, I received my kidney through the National Kidney Registry. My son was not a match for me so when he saved the life of a young father in California who was a match, then I was placed in a pool for kidneys that would be a match me. My wait for a kidney was only 5 months. -one caveat- not all hospitals participate in NKR so check to be sure. I believe all three Mayo's do participate but you would need to check that out. NKR is amazing. They paid all my son's lost wages and even helped his caregivers with costs of his care. My message to all those friends and family who want to help? "You are not a match? You don't have to be." Become a living donor and save two lives instead of one.
Best wishes to you

Im presently in the process of donating at Scripps Green Hospital in La Jolla California. They are not part of the National Kidney Registry. The HLA typing to see if I am a match for my intended recipient has not been completed. If Im not a match, I go into the kidney swap program for Scripps. Maybe contact them for sources to supplement the National Kidney Registry. I truly wish you the best of luck.

@trooperdogg1960 My husband had his kidney transplant there on October 1, 2016! They are a great surgery and Transplant Center. He had been double listed at Loma Linda University, and also at Scripps. It was quite the journey. Thank you so much for donating your kidney. I hope all goes well.
Ginger