September 19th, 2011 | 
Author: Altruistic Living Kidney Donation
Have you ever thought of giving your kidney to someone – when you are still living? It is called Living Kidney Donation. You can donate to family, friend, work colleage or someone you just heard about.
You can also donate to a total stranger. Someone you have never met, never heard of and never likely to know much if anything about. This is called Altruistic (non-directed) donation.
If you would like to know more about the procedure to become a living donor then please check out the links on the left of this page starting with Kidney Donor Evaluation begins. If you follow through the posts it will take you through the whole evaluation process including getting HTA permission; finding a recipient; the operation and recovery process. You can also learn more by clicking on the links at the top of the page including why I became an altruistic living donor.
59 Responses to “Become a Living Kidney Donor – Giving a Kidney is a wonderful thing to do”
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Oh gosh a year and a half, that long. Sorry I did not realise. and your brother still has problems. Not very good of the medical team to wash their hands of him. I know one person who had trapped nerve, not sure if that is similar to trapped muscle. This was in their abdomen/side and was felt when doing certain movements. They too were told nothing wrong with them. I know after a year they then took up stretching excersies at a local gym under supervision of a physio and only then was improvement noticeable.
I do hope things improve though for your brother.
Di
my brothers happy he extended my life and iam happy he did,diaysis and death are not nice,thanks for your replys,and it was great what you done to help people neil
June 21st I gave a kidney to my husband – pleased to say “our” kidney is doing well, although he is still on a regime of 3 x a week clinic appointments which is very tiring! I will possibly be back at work next week.
He has had kidney disease for 17 years, and was told he would be on dialysis in 10, due to the excellent medical care we have had, we have been lucky. As hubby was deteriorating quite quickly over the past 18 months, I always felt I wanted to donate to him, we were not a match – ABO incompatable – and it was to be pre-emptive, I could not bear to see him on dialysis.
The work up was intense! And not entirely smooth running, the reaction to the iodine in the CT scan being most uncomfortable, I was itching for England – and I actually felt like the patient on more than one occasion.
We were told (when time was getting critical) that our plan of the ABOi transplant would have to go to the paired exchange scheme (St Georges, Tooting) – however we finally had the team at Guys agree to me being the donor after all. We were not happy at the change in procedure so late in the day. However, I would have done this if that had been our only option, I also said I wanted my kidney to go to someone on the list if there had been any complications in donating to my husband.
I have had various comments made to me – one of my husband’s siblings, which I still cannot understand – “I should not do this because my son might need a kidney”. Possible but it was my husband’s quality of life and to be entirely selfish mine also if he had had to go on dialysis.
My elderly parents, sister and of course my son (who has 2 young children) were all very worried about me, as was another of my husband’s siblings – in fact worried about both of us. But I was very calm (although there were some meltdowns previously) about 2 weeks before the ops, I felt all would be okay and could not think negatively, and still cannot.
I just wanted my hubby back and now I have – once I managed to stagger round to see him after the op, I could not have asked for a better picture – skin colour was amazing and he had bright blue eyes, because the whites were so clear. Laughing and sneezing were on the “no” list for a while, but we are doing very well now. It was also very interesting at home with both of us crooked! Not ashamed to say we needed a lot of help from family and friends, we certainly know who we can rely on in a crisis, so many wonderful people out there.
It was an easy decision for me and so many people say I have been brave, but still don’t see it like that. I was so excited too when I got my silver pin from the National Donor Centre, it was a lovely surprise!
We are 55 and 56 so now have a wonderful future together – looking forward to being able to travel again!
To anyone who is thinking about donating, whether to a relative, friend or to a stranger, I can only talk about my experience which has been good and particularly if you do know the recipient the change in them is just something you cannot describe – makes all the pain worthwhile!
Cassie
I am hoping to be able to donate to my wonderful and brave hubby. We are 52 and 54 respectively and our life has been on hold for almost 8 years although we have been on dialysis for almost 3 years (I think).
I have read just about everything possible about living donation and if that doesn’t work for us I will consider paired donation. I am literally watching my hubby die as he has other conditions which are being affected by dialysis.
I would love to speak or communicate with other people in similar situation as us.
Hi Cassie,
I am so sad to hear about your situation, I can’t imagine what it must be like. May I suggest you also post on my facebook page as then all the members get notified https://www.facebook.com/LivingKidneyDonation
I Pray that your husband soon gets the transplant he needs and you can both go on to live a wonderful life together.
All the best
Di
x
Thanks Di,
I could write a book on all we have been through but we will not give up hope. I will follow your Facebook link.
I have read all your blog and you are truly an inspiration. God bless you!!
Cassie
Hi Cassie,
At te top of this page in the Links is “blogs”. Sometimes it can help to tell ones story. If you ever feel like sharing what you have been through, then I could add it to the other stories.
Just let me know, any time if you would like to.
all the best
Di
x
Hi, I need help, I would like to donate my kidney, but I don’t know
How to or where to start, can anyone help me.
Many thank,
Leanne
Hi Leanne,
Thank you for posting your question and how wonderful you want to donate your kidney, it is a fantastic to want to give such a gift.
Okay may I suggest you read the links under “become a donor” top left of this page. you will then know what the evaluation tests are like, the operation and recovery. Reading people’s comments on the posts as well will be of a great help.
To start the process you need to make contact with your local kidney transplant centre and make an appointment with the Live Donor Co-ordinator who you can then have an initial chat to and take it from there. If you don’t know where your local transplant centre is, let me know your nearest big town and I can point you in the right direction.
All the very best
Di