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The Need for Living Kidney Donors
Over 3,000 new patients are added to the kidney transplant waiting list each month. With this great need for kidneys, there’s also a significant need for living kidney donors. It’s a big decision but choosing to become a living kidney donor could have a huge impact on someone’s life.
You can understand more about the donation process with our Living Donor ToolKit.
Did You Know?
- To be a living kidney donor, you don’t have to be related or even know the recipient.
- A typical hospital stay for living kidney donors is typically just 2-3 days.
- The short and long-term survival rates for patients who had a living donor are better than those who had a deceased donor.
- There’s no cutoff age for being a living kidney donor.
- Living donation reduces the amount of time a person spends waiting for a deceased organ.
- As a living donor, the recipient’s insurance typically covers all donation-related medical expenses.
- Living kidney donation often allows a person to avoid dialysis completely if it was not already started.
Kati Donated
When Kati heard in an email that her child’s school principal needed a kidney, she didn’t hesitate to get tested. Now Kati and the recipient of her kidney, Nancy, have become close friends.
Learn more about Kati’s story and watch the Facebook Live video of her and the recipient of her liver.
Donors Needed
Every day someone needs a kidney. Living kidney donation is a wonderful act of generosity and courage for someone in need. You can make an impact.
If you have interest in becoming a living organ donor, find out how to get started on being a candidate for donation.
HELPFUL LINKS
- Learn about kidney transplant at Mayo Clinic.
- Explore Mayo’s Transplant Center.
- Request an appointment.
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Today, Dec 12, I begin the process to determine if I will be an acceptable living kidney donor. With successful results this week, one less person will be on the transplant list.
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3 ReactionsHi Karis and welcome to our transplant group! Best of luck today as you undergo your tests and screenings. Living donation is an amazing act of generosity and courage – thank you for taking on this journey! Not only will you make a difference for someone waiting on the transplant list, but you will set an amazing example of selflessness and kindness. Who knows, maybe you will inspire others to consider living donation.
I’m sure you’re well-informed about the living donor process and what to expect, but take a look at our new transplant page with dedicated information for living donors:
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/page/transplant/#/!tab=resources-35. You may find some helpful nuggets in there as your journey continues.
Are you donating to someone you know? Or are you donating anonymously?
This is an anonymous donation. I have seen the need and feel that if I am accepted it will be a good thing for someone.
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1 ReactionWow, that’s incredible Karis. Do you know if your transplant center does organ donation chains? If so you will definitely impact more than one person. If you haven’t heard of donation chains, they start when someone like you chooses to give anonymously to a compatible recipient. The chain continues with your recipient’s donor (who wasn’t a match) giving to a compatible recipient, and so on. The average donation chain at Mayo Clinic includes 6-9 transplanted kidneys. Talk about amazing! Here’s a graphic explaining the concept: http://mayohealthhighlights.startribune.com/2016/05/13/the-organ-donation-chain/.
Another resource I wanted to point you to is our transplant discussion group. It’s a welcoming online community where more than 100 transplant patients, caregivers and donors share their experiences, find support and exchange information with others. Here’s a link if you’re interested: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/page/transplant/. I know the group would love to hear from you!
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1 Reaction@karis Thank you, karis, for sharing this information.
Thank you for your desire to be tested as a potential living kidney donor.
Thank you for offering a sign hope to the many persons awaiting a kidney transplant.
I hope that the testing is a positive experience for you. And I hope that you will be able to fulfill your goal to be a living donor.
I am a recipient of liver and kidney donation from a deceased donor, and I want you ( and anyone reading this) to know that organ donation is the most precious gift for one person to give to another.
Rosemary
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1 ReactionHi, @karis, I hope that you are doing well. I am visiting you from the Connect Transplant Discussion Group. And I want to invite you to have a look at a newly posted discussion about being a living kidney donor. Please know that I welcome you to join the discussion.
Rosemary
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@karis, here's the direct link to the discussion that Rosemary refers to. Perhaps you can offer some guidance and support to Lovelly as she waits to hear if she is a match for her son.
- Kidney transplant - process for being a living donor http://mayocl.in/2kUIcrW
I did complete the testing to become a kidney donor and all the blood and scan tests were positive. However, when the committee that makes final approval met the decision was to not approve me. The reason given to me was that my kidney had several arteries which would make the transplant problematical for a recipient. As for the testing, I had no problems with any of them and consider that I received a complete physical examination with good results.Carroll Sharp
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2 ReactionsIn a section I just read called Did You Know? it says " there's no cutoff age for being a living kidney donor". I need a kidney transplant and have been evaluated & accepted for kidney transplant at Mayo in Minnesota. I've been trying to spread the word and Mayo Living Donation contact information to anyone who is interested. A relative of mine contacted Mayo to ask about beng tested for me and she was rejected because she was too old. She is 82 and was told the cutoff is 80.
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1 ReactionI don't know if requirements and procedures are the same for Rochester and Jacksonville,however, I was tested as a living kidney donor here in Jacksonville and all testing was positive with the exception that my kidney had multiple arteries which would make transplant problematic for the recipient. If this were to change, I would still be agreeable to go forward with the donation.
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