Family and Friends

If you are thinking about becoming a living donor there are some things you should consider. You need to understand donor medical eligibility, your benefits and risks of donation, and other common donor concerns. This way you will be able to make an informed decision.

To qualify as a living donor you must:

• Be willing to donate
• Have a blood type that is compatible with the recipient’s blood type, though it does not have to be an exact match.
• Be absolutely healthy
   

Risks for Donors:

• Risk of developing high blood pressure after you donate
• Depression if the kidney you have donated fails
• Risk for complications during kidney surgery: Possibility of infection, fever, bleeding, blood clots, hernia, nerve damage, damage to other organs
• Risk of death: less than 1% (1 in 3000), the risk of dying from anesthesia common to any surgery
   

Benefits for Donors:

Donating an organ can be a very rewarding experience. As a living donor, you will give your recipient the best possible chance of living with a kidney that will work well for a long time. You may also spare your relative or friend a long wait on the national waiting list. Instead, the transplant can take place sooner, at a time that is convenient for both of you.
 

Here is what some donors said was a benefit for them:

“Since the recipient was my wife, it freed both of us to do things that were difficult before, such as vacation.”

“Most people are dead when they donate; I’m alive and I get to see the results of my gift. I also enjoy hearing the activities my brother-in-law tells me about between him and his children.”

“I found this to be one of the best experiences of my life. It was an incredible physical, mental, and emotional challenge, and I was proud of myself for doing it.”