About Kidney Donation
Living Kidney Donation is a daunting topic that should not be considered lightly. I am honored and humbled by anyone who considers it.
60% of people that need a kidney never ask one person if they would consider donating because it is too awkward and imposing. I feel that. Yet here I am beating the odds.
If anyone is interested in taking a survey to see if you are a match for donation, please click the link here: www.pslmc.com/signmeup. The site can be confusing at first - you need to create an account, and it looks at first like you’re registering for surgery. But I am assured that once you select Presbyterian/St. Luke’s as the hospital, it will take you to a Living Donor Questionnaire. From what I hear it’s extensive, so grab a coffee, tea, or pop and a snack and hunker down. Other options include calling a Living Donor Coordinator at 720-754-2155 (Option 3) or emailing LivingDonorsPSL@HealthOneCares.com
Below are some Frequently Asked Questions. Even if you’re not interested in donating, some of them are quite interesting, and can be pretty surprising. I am continuing to learn more and more about a topic I wish I didn’t need to know so much about.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do I need to be a match to your blood type to be able to donate?
A: Yes… and no. Huh? The donated kidney does need to match my blood type. However, there is a program called ‘Paired Exchange’, where if you and I are not a blood type match, you can still play a part in me getting a kidney. This is where the system finds a Donor A that matches Recipient B and Donor B matches Recipient A. There is also a program called ‘Chain Donation’, where A matches B, B matches C, and C matches A.
Q: Do you need to be on dialysis before you receive a kidney?
A: No. In fact, survival rates are better if a patient receives a transplant before needing dialysis. This is one of the reasons it’s best to find a living donor now, rather than waiting the average 5 to 7 years on the deceased donor list.
Q: How long is recovery for a donor?
A: Most donors are out of the hospital in 2-3 days and back to work in 2-4 weeks for office work, 6-8 weeks for work that involves physical labor.
Q: Do I need to let you know if I sign up?
A: No. The entire process is kept strictly confidential. If you discover during the process that you have changed your mind, I will never know. But you’re free to let me know if you want to.
Q: Can I change my mind after I sign up?
A: Yes. You will be assigned a Living Donor Coordinator that will walk you through every step of the process and be an advocate for your rights. You have the right to change your mind any time, up to the time you receive the anesthesia before the surgery.
Q: What is the financial cost to me?
A: Travel and time off of work. All medical expenses including evaluation testing, surgery, hospitalization, and after-care are all covered 100% by my insurance. There is no out-of-pocket medical expense cost to you.
Q: Will donating a kidney shorten my lifespan?
A: No. Living kidney donors normally live longer than the average person. Not because they gave, but because of selection bias; people who give are selected after extensive testing and are people who would have normally lived longer anyway.
Q: Will I be able to live a normal life after donating?
A: Yes. After recovery you can do pretty much everything you did before donating. Living an active lifestyle such as biking, skiing, etc. are usual daily activities for a living donor. Activities that might lead to severe blunt trauma to the remaining kidney such as full contact football, hockey, karate or skiing between trees should be avoided. Decades of patient followup confirms that donating a kidney does not affect your day-to-day life. You may need to avoid certain medicines that are not kidney friendly, but there are alternatives. For example, use Tylenol instead of Advil.
Q: What if my remaining kidney fails?
A: While this is extremely rare due to the extensive testing before donation, the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) has a policy for this. You are placed near the top of the deceased donor kidney list and would receive a kidney within a few months.
If you have any other questions or if you just want to check in you can email me at snoooorm@gmail.com.