Can You Alive With One Kidney?

When about of united states think about kidney donation, we think of checking a box on our driver'south license in example of an blow. Only you don't have to be deceased to donate a kidney. Being a living kidney donor is actually more common—and safe—than you might call back.

Living kidney donations save thousands of lives each year. What do you know near being a living kidney donor?

Facts Almost Being a Living Kidney Donor

ane. Living kidney donation is the best option for people who need a new kidney.

Many living donors don't want their loved ones to wait months or even years for a kidney on the national transplant waiting listing. Transplant surgeons accept successfully performed living kidney donation surgeries since the 1950s. In fact, donating a kidney is the most common living organ donation.

two. Living kidney donation is safety.

If you lot are healthy, donating a kidney won't make you more likely to get sick or have major health issues. Like whatever surgery, the procedure does take some risks. But overall, living kidney donation is safe. In most cases, altruistic a kidney will not non heighten your take a chance of kidney affliction, diabetes, or other health problems.

3. You don't have to be related to someone to donate a kidney to them.

In fact, one in 4 living organ donors is non biologically related to the recipient (the person who receives a donated organ). Spouses, in-laws, close friends, church building members, and fifty-fifty members of the same community can all be living donors.

It's true that family unit members take a higher chance of being a adept friction match. Merely living donor transplants are more than successful compared to kidneys from deceased donors because these kidneys come from living donors.

four. You lot don't need both of your kidneys to stay healthy.

It might surprise y'all to learn that your trunk doesn't demand two kidneys to perform an important task—removing waste and regulating your metabolism. Later on donating, your remaining kidney will take on the work of both kidneys.

5. Your blood and tissue blazon must exist compatible with your recipient'southward.

As well being salubrious, living donors must have compatible blood and tissue types with the kidney recipient. The transplant team volition perform tests to see if your blood and tissues are uniform (are a healthy friction match) with the kidney recipient. If they aren't, our living donor program tin can also brainwash you about the paired donation program.

6. Y'all will have tests, screening, and evaluation to make sure you're a good match.

The transplant team will perform psychosocial and medical tests to help ensure yous volition stay good for you after your donation. Some tests y'all will have include:

  • blood tests,
  • urine tests,
  • imaging exams, and
  • cancer screenings.

vii. Your hospital stay will exist short and you can get back to work adequately quickly.

About living kidney donors stay in the hospital for naught to one twenty-four hour period. Depending on what you exercise for work, you can return to piece of work as soon as two weeks or as tardily every bit eight weeks after your surgery. You also shouldn't elevator anything heavier than 10 pounds for the first six weeks afterward your surgery.

8. You can still accept a baby.

Altruistic a kidney won't go far harder for you lot to get meaning or deliver a baby. Living kidney donation doesn't cause fertility problems in women or men. Still, women should wait one year after donating a kidney before they get significant. This gives your body plenty of time to heal.

ix. You lot tin can talk to someone who's donated before.

Our living kidney donor program can assistance you lot speak with someone from our program who has donated a kidney. Donors ofttimes find it'due south helpful to talk with another donor about their experiences.

10. Yous don't demand to live in the same location every bit your recipient.

You can live anywhere in the country. Near of your testing tin can exist done at a lab or hospital most your dwelling. Your surgery will take place at the University of Utah Wellness. In that location are besides organizations that can help you pay for travel costs.

Donate a Kidney—Save a Life

If you'd similar to exist a living kidney donor, are healthy, and are betwixt the ages of xviii–69, contact a member of our living kidney donor team. Retrieve, living kidney donation saves lives.

Financial Resources

Are you because living organ donation but are worried nearly costs of intendance? Larn more by reading the American Guild of Transplantation'due south Live Donor Financial Toolkit.

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