Living Donation
The majority of those on the national waiting list are in need of a kidney for transplant. A significant number on the U.S. waiting list is in need of a liver transplant. These people desperately need a donor organ to save their life. Living donation is one way to save lives, reduce the number of people waiting, and increase the chances a match is found for others.
To learn what living donation entails, listen to three experts discuss being a living kidney donor, the process and the long-term outcomes for living donors. Lifebanc podcast, Let’s Talk About Life Episode 96 contains vital information you’ll want to hear.
Although Lifebanc does not facilitate living donation, both transplant centers in our service area have excellent living donation programs. Find out more here:
In need if a hero, but don’t know where to start? Check out The Big Ask, The Big Give program from the National Kidney Foundation!
Interested in being a Living Kidney Donor? The National Kidney Donation Organization (NKDO) is an organization of Living Donors who help mentor those looking to donate a kidney as well as helping those who are in need of a kidney transplant. NKDO provides education and information to prospective living kidney donors. If you are interested in learning more about living kidney donation, please visit their website at www.nkdo.org
The National Kidney Registry voucher programs can help someone in need of a kidney and has someone willing to donate, but they are not a match. Learn more about this lifesaving organization and the voucher programs available.
Paired Donation
Although he wasn’t a match for his mom, Ryan was able to donate a kidney, and his mom received one through the paired donation process. Kidney paired donation is a transplant option for candidates who have a living donor who is medically able, but cannot donate a kidney to their intended candidate because they are incompatible (i.e. poorly matched). Paired exchange donation consists of two or more kidney donor/recipient pairs whose blood types are not compatible. The two recipients trade donors so that each recipient can receive a kidney with a compatible blood type. Once all donors and recipients have been tested, the kidney transplant surgeries can be scheduled to occur.
Altruistic Donors
Non-directed donors are living donors who are not related to or known by the recipient but make their donation purely out of selfless motives. This type of donation is also referred to as anonymous, altruistic, altruistic stranger, and stranger-to-stranger living donation. Individuals who are interested in becoming this type of donors should contact transplant centers in their area to discuss the possibility of becoming a donor.
