FAQ'S ABOUT DONATING A KIDNEY (I only need one!)

HOW DOES ORGAN DONATION WORK?

• You only need one kidney to live a healthy, long life.

• Kidney donor surgery is done laparoscopically, through tiny incisions. There is a short hospital stay.

• The recuperation period is usually about two weeks.

• My insurance will cover the cost of evaluation, diagnostic tests and surgery.

• You will have a separate team of healthcare professionals to evaluate you as a living donor.  The Donor Team's job is to help you understand the risks and benefits and to look out for YOUR interests.  The team includes a separate advocate for donors.

• Studies have shown that kidney donors do well after donation and continue to have an excellent quality of life, similar to (or even better) than people who have not donated.

WHO CAN DONATE?

•  Any healthy adult with a compatible blood type and tissue match.

• In addition to family members, donors include friends, coworkers, acquaintances or strangers.

• No history of blood sugar problems/diabetes.

• Mentally healthy

• Altruistic motivation

• Evaluated on individual basis:

          •  High blood pressure

          •  History of cancer

          •  History of kidney stones

          •  BMI of 32 or more

               

•    WHAT IS THE FIRST STEP?

•      Call IU Health Transplant at 317-944-4370 or 800-382-4602
•   ·  Contact is not a commitment and is strictly confidential.
•   ·  Mention my name, Mary Ann Hope
• 
  

WHAT IF MY BLOOD TYPE IS NOT O+?

• If you are willing to donate but do not match my blood type, there is a Paired Donor Exchange Program.

• A computer database cross-matches donors and recipients.  For example, there may be someone who wants to donate a kidney to me, but he/she is not a match.  My donor could donate a kidney to another recipient if that person also has a donor who is not a match, but is a match to me.  The two pairs 'swap' kidneys.

 PLEASE VISIT THESE WEBSITES FOR MORE INFORMATION:

• www.youtube.com: Search:

         • Kidney Transplant: What to Expect / IU Health         

         • Kidney Transplant Donor Surgery - Laparascopic Live Donor Nephrectomy,                                Dr. Chandru Sundaram

•  http://iuhealthlearning.org/video/transplant 

•  https://www.donatelifeindiana.org/  

•  www.iuhealth.org/transplant

•  Donate Life America: www.donatelife.net/living-donation/

• United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS):  www.transplantliving.org

• National Kidney Foundation:  www.kidney.org

• Transplant Experience - Astrellas:  www.transplantexperience.com/Kidney

PLEASE FEEL FREE TO FB MESSAGE ME ANY TIME WITH QUESTIONS!

          CHEERS AND THANK YOU! 

   

                       MARY ANN :)