How are people tested for compatibility? What kind of tests should I expect?

• Lab work (blood and urine samples) to check your health and compatibility.

• Meeting with the transplant team to discuss your physical and emotional health.

• Imaging (x-rays or CT scans) to check your kidneys' health.

We are also asking for interested potential donors to complete the VCU Health Transplant questionnaire as they have their own guidelines.

Can people with other medical conditions donate?

Personal medical conditions will be evaluated through the questionnaire.

There are a few common requirements for people who are interested in living donation:

• You must be at least 18 years old. Some transplant centers require a donor to be 21 or even a little older.

• Not have certain medical conditions that could prevent you from being a living donor, including having uncontrolled high blood pressure, diabetes, or cancer.

• Not be a smoker or, if you are, you will most likely be asked to quit before being approved to donate. You should be honest with the team about your smoking habits to make sure that the donation and transplant are successful.

Each transplant center has slightly different requirements, so the transplant center will decide who would be a good donor. If you are not approved as a living donor at one transplant center, you may be able to get evaluated at other centers who have different requirements.

Why is a living donor better than a passed donor?

Getting a living donor transplant has several benefits for the recipient with kidney failure compared to getting a deceased donor transplant:

• A shorter wait – Having a living donor means the patient no longer has to wait on dialysis. If someone has kidney failure and can find a donor before they need to start dialysis, they may be able to get a preemptive transplant, meaning they don’t have to go on dialysis at all.

• A better match – Some living donor transplants are done between family members who are genetically similar, but you can be a great match with someone you are not related to. A better genetic match lessens the risk of rejection.

• Lasts longer - On average, a kidney from a living donor lasts about 15 to 20 years, compared to 7 to 10 years for a kidney from a deceased donor. Some will last longer; others will last less. Living donor kidneys also have a better chance at working right away than deceased donor kidneys.

• Better timing – With a living donor, it is possible to plan the surgery day and time at a good time for the pair and the transplant team. This way, both the kidney patient and their living donor can be at their healthiest.

What are the overall risks?

Just like having any other surgery, there are risks involved with having a living donor surgery. Some short-term risks include:

• Bleeding or getting an infection in the areas around the surgical area.

• Developing a hernia if you lift anything too heavy right after surgery.

• Getting a Urinary Tract Infection (UTI). This can be caused from having a urinary catheter placed during surgery to allow your body to urinate while you're in surgery and under anesthesia.

The transplant team will talk to you more about these and other potential long-term risks of donating a kidney during your evaluation.

What is the recovery like for donors?

It will take about 4-6 weeks to fully recover and get back to a normal, healthy life. You'll have follow-up appointments with the transplant team to make sure you're doing well and healing properly.

What should I NOT do once I donate my kidney?

Life after donating a kidney is very similar to life before donating a kidney!

• Kidney donors will not have a shorter life from donating their kidney. Research has shown that living kidney donors of all ethnicities have the same life expectancy, or live just as long, as people who don't donate.

• A female donor should wait between 6 months to 1 year after donation to become pregnant. The body needs time to recover from the surgery and to adjust to living with one kidney before pregnancy. You should talk with your doctor before becoming pregnant. There is a small risk for developing high blood pressure and other conditions related to pregnancy with one kidney, so you should make sure you receive proper prenatal care.

• Pain medicine is only needed for a short time after surgery. You will not have to take medicine for the rest of your life just because you donated a kidney. Your time on pain medicine right after surgery is decided between you and the transplant team.

• Donors do not have to follow a special diet after donating, but a healthy, balanced diet is recommended for anyone. Donors can still drink alcohol in moderation.

• Donors should take special care of the kidney they have left, including protection during contact sports.

Do I have to come to Virginia?

To be tested for compatibility with Jeff, you do not have to come to Virginia! A family member lives in Florida and she did not have to leave the state to conduct her tests.

I got tested but am not compatible with Jeff. Can I still help him or others in need of a kidney donation?

If you turn out not to be a good match, another option is a “paired exchange”.

A paired exchange involves two pairs of living donors and their recipients. The two recipients “swap” donors so that each receives a kidney from the other person’s donor. If this is an option for you, your transplant team will coordinate the entire process, including finding the other matching pair.

I have other questions!

We’d love to answer them :-) Head to the Contact Me page for my information and I will do my best to get back to you as soon as possible.