Frequent Donor Questions

For any questions about the donor process or how to begin an evaluation, please contact Breanna at The Christ Hospital at 513-585-1427 or breanna.bronson@TheChristHospital.com.


If you would like to reach me directly, please email me at pk@fuse.net.


Being a kidney donor does not raise your risk of having kidney problems later in your life. More information can be found at the National Kidney Foundation Donor Information website.

 

Why a living donor?

 

Individuals on the national transplant waiting list (over 100,000 people) may wait many years for a new kidney and never receive one in time. There is no wait for donations from a living donor, once you find a donor.

 

Also, recipients of a living donor’s kidney tend to live longer and healthier lives compared to those who receive a deceased donor’s kidney, or go on dialysis.

 

 Who can be a living kidney donor?

 

A kidney donor must be in good physical and mental health. As a general rule, you must be 18 years or older. You must also have better than normal kidney function. 


Do donor and recipient have to be related? 

 

No!  One in four living organ donors is not biologically related to the recipient. Spouses, in-laws, friends, neighbors, and even helpful strangers in the same community can be living donors. Living donor transplants are generally more successful than deceased donor transplants. This is because these kidneys are healthier, making a perfect match less critical.

 

It's true that family members have a higher chance of being a good match. But living donations can come from any donor who is healthy enough to donate.


Can anyone donate?

 

Besides being healthy, living donors must have compatible blood and tissue types with the kidney recipient. 

 

The transplant team performs tests to confirm that the donor’s blood and tissues are compatible (are a healthy match) with the kidney recipient. 

 

How do I know if I’m a match?

 

The transplant center performs a series of compatibility tests, which include:

 

Is kidney donation safe?

 

For healthy donors, the donation of one kidney won’t make them more likely to get sick or have future major health problems.

 

Like any surgery, the procedure does have some risks, but overall, living kidney donation is safe. And in most cases, kidney donation won’t raise your risk of kidney disease, diabetes, or lead to other health problems. You will not be eligible to make a donation if the transplant team believes that your health would be impaired.

 

Don’t I need both of my kidneys?

 

It might surprise you to learn that your body doesn’t need two kidneys to perform, i.e. remove waste and regulate your metabolism. After donating, your remaining kidney will take on the work of both kidneys.  On average, donors do have a small permanent loss of kidney function after surgery, since one kidney is doing the work of two. However, the remaining kidney’s functions do increase to fully support the body. That is, this loss should not impair the donor from living a full and vigorous life.

 

Should a donor later need a kidney, he or she is given preference on the national transplant list. 

 

What are the long-term risks of kidney donation?

 

The amount of research into the long-term risks of kidney donation is limited. However, most studies suggest that a donor will live a normal life with one kidney. 

 

When one kidney is removed, the remaining normal kidney increases in capacity to compensate. This is called “compensatory growth.” Studies show that your total kidney function returns to roughly 70% within 10 to 11 days, and about 70 to 80% at long term follow-up. Any immediate loss should not impair the donor from living a full and vigorous life.

 

One possible long-term risk may be high blood pressure. Research shows that many people who donate a kidney have slightly higher blood pressure after several years, which can be controlled. 

 

There have been occasional reports of patients who developed kidney failure after donation, possibly due to heredity factors (family background). If kidney failure occurs, a donor will be given top priority for a kidney transplant. 

 

How would my kidney be removed?

 

Removing a kidney is typically done by laparoscopy in a surgical procedure called a “nephrectomy.” It involves the use of a laparoscope (wand-like camera) that is passed through a series of small incisions or “ports” in the abdominal wall (stomach). Typically, the surgery takes 3–5 hours to complete, with time in the recovery room afterward for observation. 

 

The advantages of laparoscopic surgery include shorter recovery time, shorter hospital stay, smaller incisions, and fewer post-operative complications. The transplant team will fully discuss this with you.

 

Is kidney failure treatable?

 

There is no medical treatment to fix an unhealthy kidney. There are, however, two options: transplant or dialysis.  While kidney dialysis is an option for individuals with kidney failure, the multiple-time-a-week procedure is hard on the body and presents its own set of significant health problems. Life expectancy on dialysis is about 1/3 of the life expectancy for an individual receiving a living donor kidney. 

 

Who pays for the donor’s medical care?

 

All donor’s medical costs, including the cost of medical tests required pre-surgery, are covered by the recipient’s medical insurance.

 

How long would I have to stay in a hospital? 

 

Most people are in the hospital three to four days after surgery. However, everyone is different and the rate of recovery will vary greatly among individuals. The transplant center will be able to give you their best estimate of your recovery time.

 

Who covers my travel expenses and lost wages?

 

Donors can be reimbursed for lost wages and travel expenses related to their living donation.

 

Can I talk to someone who’s donated before?

 

Yes! Donors often find it helpful to talk with other donors about their experiences. Every living kidney donor center can help you speak with someone from their program who has donated a kidney.


please contact Breanna at The Christ Hospital directly at 513-585-1427.


 

Do I need to live in the same location as my recipient?

 

No, the testing and actual donation can be done near the donor’s home. 

 

When travel is required, all travel expenses for the individual and any caregiver are reimbursed.

 

How do I donate a kidney?

 

You begin by contacting Breanna at The Christ Hospital directly at 513-585-1427.


After you contact the transplant center, they’ll begin a basic medical screening. The screening includes questions about your medical history. This is to find out if you have any conditions that would prevent you from donating. 


 Can I help spread the word?

 

Of course! I'd love it if you could share my search for a kidney with others. Please share the link to this website with friends or on social media.  You may use any content that would be helpful to you. 

Thank you!