The importance of making sure you have identification as a living donor.

 

I really let time get away from me the last several months.  I just celebrated my 6 year anniversary of donating a kidney and I am happy to report that I feel great and my creatine level is normal. 

I wanted this blog to be  dedicated to the importance of safety that you should take being a living kidney donor, especially when traveling alone.  I have mentored many people through the living donation process and the thing that was never covered after my donation is how important it is to let people know that you have donated and even more so, to always have some sort of identification on you saying that you are a living donor.  I myself have two pieces of jewelry that I wear anytime that I am alone.  One is a ring that says; Living Donor 2010 one kidney and the other is a slim leather band bracelet that says; Living kidney donor, 2010, one right kidney.  Here is an example of mine:

 

There are so many great sites on the web to find just the right thing for you...so do your research.

If wearing jewelry or an ID bracelet is not your "thing" no problem.  But, make sure you either keep an emergency contact card in your wallet (I taped mine on the back of my drivers license).  Perhaps to some this may sound paranoid but it's up to you to protect your one remaining kidney.  The following are a few suggestions that I live by:

 

• Tell your co-workers and HR department that you only have one kidney.
• Make sure your friends and family are all aware.
• Over the counter medicines can contain things that are not good for the kidneys so make sure to make best friends with your pharmacy and always ask their opinion.
• Avoid taking ibuprofen as this is particularly difficult on the kidneys, also commonly known as Advil, Motrin and Nurofen. 
• Advise all of your physicians that you donated, as it makes a difference in what kind of medications they prescribe for you, including antibiotics.

Why are things important?  You have ONE kidney.  Should you have an accident or take a blow to your good kidney it is imperative that the medical staff is aware that you only have one.  It influences medications and how treatments are determined to be the safest.  It also alerts them make sure that nothing has happened to the remaining kidney. 

 

After giving the gift of life...you want to continue to take care of yours. 





 

 

 

 

 

Five Years Later - What comes next for living donors?

I cannot believe how the time has flown since I donated April 26, 2010.  It just  doesn't seem possible that it's been that long (I'm in denial from an age perspective).

What I can say is that health wise everything has been great, my creatine level is the same as when I donated and other than falling off a shelf (it's not easy being graceful) and having surgery on my rotator cuff in May of this year all is well!


A concern of mine is that the number of living donors has been on the decline the last couple of years.  I still have been very active mentoring those who are interested in donating.  There have been discussions on several issues of living donors.  Should they be compensated?  My answer...absolutely not.   This would open what I feel is a dangerous situation.  If you are going to donate you donate to give not to be compensated.  There are many organizations that will help with expenses for living donors under certain circumstances i.e., should they need to travel to donate, should they have to take time off without being paid.  These non-profits set the standards and are reasonable.  Being financially compensated for donating a kidney is completely unethical to me.  This is not the way to entice more people to come forward and donate. It creates a living red market so that the highest bidder wins as opposed to who needs the kidney most.  Although every person is required to go through extensive testing before they are approved as a donor, there are too many factors that can hidden.  When money comes to the table people can be unbelievably creative and deceptive.


What would be far more encouraging is for the living donor to be provided free creatine level testing for their lifetime to insure that their remaining kidney is performing the way it should be.  These blood tests are costs that we must pay for after the free two year follow-up from the transplant center ends.   Another would be to make it a Federal law that an employee will not lose pay while they are recuperating. The government would give tax incentives or split the cost with the employer in order for the person to have the proper amount of time before they go back to work.  Since my donating five years ago, I only know of two people who were able to return to their full time schedule in two weeks.  It is an unrealistic period of time for healing.  Out of 170 that myself and other living donor advocates surveyed 75% felt it took them at least 4 to 6 weeks to really be comfortable enough to drive and return to work.  I think the two week guideline that transplant centers state is positively not enough time to heal.  Once you have gotten over the initial surgery and start to feel better, you still must remember that you are still healing internally and need to be very cautious of lifting or doing anything that could give you a hernia.

I would love to see transplant centers follow their living donors and monitor their well being both physically and mentally after donating.  This does not mean send out a "how did we do" survey.
This means coming up with questions that are relevant and quantifiable for future research and result comparisons. It should be done annually and given to all living donors. It should also include questions regarding their emotional well being as well as physical.  The ability to give solid information and statistics is so important from living donors on encouraging and helping future donors have better information to make their decision.

UNOS (United Network for Organ Sharing) you should be grateful to have living donors be more involved in the organ donation process.  They are a gift to you with their knowledge and experience. Better utilize the knowledge and experiences that they have to give and offer. What better way to encourage more people to donate?


Most importantly to all of you that have been so incredible to donate a kidney, make it your mission to stay involved in the donation process, mentoring others, sharing your experiences so others will benefit.  
So many are looking for your experiences!

Kidney hugs to you all!

Holidays and Reflection

This time of year always brings great reflection on the year that has gone by far too quickly.  I hope and pray to become a better person, mother and friend.

While reflecting on all the things that have happened this year I find myself deeply saddened by the loss of my Bonnie.  She passed on November 1st and it's been a struggle trying to deal with why.  But then I realized there was no why.  It is just is the circle of life.  It brings me joy knowing how much she supported me with my decision to donate a kidney.  I can laugh now thinking how much she enriched my life and how lucky I was to have her for the time I did.  It is rare when you have someone in your life that loves you unconditionally, can tell you your make up doesn't match your skin tone, is brave and such a fighter.

Being with her through the last fifteen months has taught me so much.  I realize that when I donated a kidney I was able to give someone else the chance to be with their loved ones.  I find that my gift...to myself...I am the fortunate one who was able to do that.  I am the one who was blessed to be able to donate.

As I continue to be an advocate for those who are interested in donating, I hear so many stories and situations that I carefully think through before opening my mouth (which is not easy).  Each one brings something unique and to think about.  There was a woman who was going to through testing who wanted to be a non-designated donor like myself...only to find that she only had one kidney.  She was so upset that she couldn't donate and I reminded her that she was willing to step up to the plate to do something special that most people would never even consider!

As I've said in previous posts, it's not for everyone but I believe in my heart that until another solution is found that living donors are they only way to reduce the waiting list for a kidney.  It's something to think about seriously.  April of 2015 will mark my five year anniversary of donating.  I can't believe how quickly that time has gone.  If you are reading this post for yourself I hope you will share it with others.  If ever you could make a difference...donating a kidney will give the gift of life.  If you are not ready to donate now or ever, at least consider being a donor on your state license.  Your one kidney, could not only save a life but end up allowing a paired exchange like my own that allowed eight people to receive a kidney.

I want to thank Harvey Mysel of the Living Kidney Donors Network for being my mentor through the process. He was introduced to me through John and Diane Brockington, of the John Brockington
Foundation in San Diego, who were responsible for my being inspired to donate.  I want to thank Angela
Stimpson-Cuozzo a kidney donor sister that has donated so much of her time to educating and sharing her donation experience with so many people who want the opportunity to chat.

If you are someone you know needs a kidney be sure to pass on the LKDN.org which is a non-profit group founded by Harvey Mysel to help people understand that there are many ways to help you share your  and story of needing a kidney.  His site offers so much info on paired donation, axing the myth that because your spouse or family member isn't a match doesn't mean they can't be part of a pairing.  
Education the public to the possibilities of becoming a living donor are so needed and he has dedicated years of his life to make this his mission.

Most of all...for those waiting for a kidney...never give up hope.  There are so many people out there that are willing to help.  Here is to a wonderful 2015.  Make a difference.

Four Years After Donating

It has been four years since I donated.  Actually, 4 years and 1 month.  I have been so bad about not blogging lately.

Four years and just had my creatine level checked and it's the same as when I donated.  That's always good news to hear.  So I'll mention it yet again...once your check-ups with the transplant facility are over you need to be responsible to yourself and make sure you have this checked every year!

I am still working with many people who are interested in donating and want someone not affiliated  with the the hospital to talk with.  Many interesting contacts lately.  A word of caution to anyone who receives an email offering money to donate a kidney.  DO NOT even think about.  It's against the law and you have no idea who you might be dealing with.  I have gotten several from many different countries.  I guess they didn't do their research since I already donated and I'm not about to give the other one up....yet...although I am an organ donor...go figure!

I am still amazed how so many people needing a kidney have not been educated as to the possibility of a living donor.  I was in the airport in Pittsburgh...I know...I had to go for business...and this beautiful, older woman in wheel chair noticed my living donor tag on my carry on.  She looked up at me said "what is a living donor"?  So of course any opportunity to talk about kidneys and I am SO there!  I explained to her that I donated a kidney.  The look on her face was priceless.  She then went on to explain that her nephew was on dialysis and how he was waiting for a deceased donor.  She said no one ever mentioned that he could have a living donor. 

Yep, I replied...I am one of many.  She was fascinated and asked me about the living donor process and how to go about it.  I explained that if someone was healthy enough and willing to donate to him, even if they weren't  a match that they could be involved in a kidney pairing.  She then invited me to have coffee with her while waiting for our plane to arrive.  It was a joy to see the light and excitement in her voice and on her face.  I wrote down for her the information for the Living Kidney Donor Alliance web site, founded by Harvey Myself, my transplant hero so that she could have her nephew read all of the incredible articles on the site.  I also encouraged her to contact him with any questions.

When we were ready to board the plane she looked at me and said..."God works in amazing ways doesn't he?"  I swear I wanted to cry right there...and I just looked at her and said "you have no idea."   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Importance of Support

Three years and it is still a joy to speak with those who are considering becoming a living donor.  New questions, issues and challenges for people.  As I've said many times before, I would do it all again.  But being a Kidney Ninja, a nickname I've been given  (and not deserved)  I am lucky I don't hurt myself doing yardwork, has brought me to the realization of how much I take for granted my own thinking process of being a non-designated donor.

One of the people whom I've been speaking with has a sibling that needs a kidney.  She is in the testing process and is confident that being a living donor is the right decision for her. The challenge for her has been that her immediate family have not exactly been supportive of the idea.
I can respect that...as all of us have people who love and need us and are extremely anxious about the WHAT IF something happens.  As I have suggested to many people make sure you sit down and talk with your family and friends.  They may not understand your decision but it helps if you communicate your desire and need for their support.  Edcuate them on the process as much as you educate yourself.  Only you can determine if this is something you want to do.  Is it the right time in your phase of life?  Are you doing this under pressure and feel obligated?  Have a sincere sit down with yourself and allow your family to express their feelings as well.  It all comes down to you and what you feel comfortable in doing.

Another individual has a Father who's loss of  kidney function is very close to needing dialysis.  They have a spouse and young children.  Sometimes you can hear things in a persons voice that they do not hear themselves.  Since I am not a psychologist nor in the medical arena I try not to answer these questions, but ask questions to them that prompt them to think about their donating and why.
Pressure should NOT be the reason.   I feel fortunate that as a non-designated donor I did not have to deal with these types of emotional issues.  I had made my decision, on my own, researched, reached out to people who are well respected in the Kidney Community.  I stress to everyone the importance of using due diligence in making their decision.

It saddens me to know that number of living kidney donors has declined since I firmly believe that living donors are the only way to reduce the waiting list for those needing a kidney.  But I also believe the importance of someone who is considering donating to be 100% honest with themselves on their comfort level of doing so.   Since we lack a great deal of data on those who are living donors and following them through their phases of life, we have to make the most intelligent decision that we can for ourselves.

I am very thankful that I was surrounded by friends and family, my two grown Sons to be there for me and support my decision.  Now in saying that understand that I myself  had people that asked me that infamous question...Why are you doing this when you don't have to.  My answer was because I can...I can make a difference and I want to make a difference.  Only you can answer that question.
There are no guarantees in life...in donating a kidney...in what will happen in your future.  Sometimes there is just a leap of faith that comes from your gut that this is right for you.

Three Years After Donation

Its been three years since I donated my kidney. It seems like yesterday and with time I continue to grow and learn more and more about living donors. Many of you know that I am part of a group that started a non-profit called the Living Kidney Donors Alliance. We started this because of the tremendous need for other potential living donors who wanted the opportunity to speak with someone who has been through the process. I have been honored to mentor over 30 donors now and my kidney family continues to grow. For those of you considering donating a kidney to a loved one or be a non-designated donor like I was I truly hope you will take advantage of the numerous people in the the group who have been through this journey. So what have I learned? How important it is for potential donors to have access to what we call an "independent donor advocate". Someone who does not have any ties to the transplant center who can help guide you before, during and after your donation. I am not a medical advisor in any way and have no desire to be. I am however a strong advocate to those donating to be pro-active in their health care, questions and concerns and to be their cheerleader I suppose, in letting them know that they have a voice, someone who cares, 24 hours a day. I've learned that UNOS (United Network for Organ Sharing) which monitors and governs the transplant centers throughout the United States needs to take a stronger look at how important an indpendent donor advocate is as well as wanting to be receptive to survey feedback that has not been acted upon by the transplant centers for living donors. Too many donors have felt that they have been left by the wayside once they have donated. There should be life long annual check ups for living donors to check their creaetine levels and more importantly, no one should be denied health insurance because donating is considered a "pre-existing condition". One in 750 people are born with one kidney and don't even know it until they have some sort of medical testing that reveals it. I had one young woman that I was working with who wanted to donate and when she got to the testing phase of her kidney function it showed that she only had one kidney so she obviously could not donate. I told her that it was a blessing for her in disquise and that she should feel strong and proud that she was willing to step up to the plate and donate on behalf of a friend of hers. So why...should those who have donated a kidney be considered a pre-existing condition? I feel blessed that to report that I feel great, that my donation has made positively no change in my lifestyle. Now that I am past the two year donating mark, I will be responsible financially to have my creatine level checked each year. But I can assure you of this I have positively no regrets in donating and I only wish I could do it again. It brings a smile to my face each day knowing that the man who recieved by kidney in the kidney pairing is doing great and has his life back. I am concerned with the existing processes for donors and the unrealistic expectations of how quickly they will return to a normal schedule. Everyone heals at a different pace but over 70% of those surveyed felt it took 4 to 6 weeks to be able to go back to work full time and resume their normal duties. I have seen a few cases (very few) where the individual did return in two weeks. I still to this day am convinced that living donors are the only way to reduce the waiting list and save lives, especially with kidney pairings. But I also am in high hopes that the medical transplant community will be more pro-active for the donor, keep closer communication after the donation and that UNOS will mandate a much longer schedule of medical check-ups for living donors. Several of the LKDA group have made efforts to attend the UNOS meetings and unfortunately the reception has not been warm and fuzzy. It is almost as if they don't want to hear the feedback of living donors and their needs. This makes me sad...not for myself but for all living donors. It makes me angry not for myself...but for all living donors. There is nothing like giving the gift of life and myself and many others are dedicated to making this experience a wonderful one!

Challenges donating away from home

The New Year is already going by so quickly. But with it brings hope, change and new challenges. I have been working with two living donors this past month, one just finished her donation this week and is doing fantastic. It brought a smile and hope to my face after the New Town slayings which truly rattled all of us to the core. So I am again reminded how many wonderful people there really are out there. I have been so used to working with non-designated donors that I'll call her "Nancy" had a completely different circumstance. She was in another State her brother here in Chicago and ran across my blog as well as the lkda.org site (the Living Kidney Donors Aliiance) which is a non-profit group to support other living donors. She asked if I would contact her and of course as you know from previous blogs I enjoy working with donors more than anything. She brought a new set of dynamics to me in her donation. She was frustrated with trying to do her testing in another state, getting bills that should not have been sent to her because the facility doing the testing was not experienced in the living donation process. Hence a great deal frustration. I reminded her not to pull her hair out. She knew that she would be coming to Chicago to make her donation to a family member. I told her to reach out to her advocate at Northwestern and explain all of the issues she was having and to let them take care of it she had enough to worry about. I explained to her that she should not recieve any bills of any type for her donation. She followed my advice and Northwestern's staff straightened it out and Nancy decided to come to Chicago and get all of the additional tests needed instead of dragging things out. I had to stop and think to myself, wow this entirely different! I was a non-designated donor, I didn't have a family member or friend that I was fighting for. Talk about pressure! All of us would like to think that we would do this but you know in truth it's such a personal decision and it's not for everybody and so those who don't come forward should not feel badly. It is scary especially for those who have never had surgery. But this was a family member of Nancy's. I tried to put myself in her shoes and walked her through the processes and the healing process, what to expect as best as I could. More importantly I wanted her to understand that no matter how badly she "wanted" to donate she needed to be sure that she was 100% comfortable in making the decision to donate. This is true for everyone regardless of it being on behalf of someone or being a non-designated donor. One thought that she hadn't played over in her head was if she wasn't a match for her brother. I asked her about her feeling on a paired exchanged if she wasnt'. That brought food for thought to her to be prepared for. I met she and her husband (incredibly supportive of her decision) for lunch...well I had lunch she couldn't eat because of testing. What was I thinking having that blue cheese burger in front of her? Couldn't help it my tummmy was growling. I knew after meeting that Nancy was going to make this happen and she did on Friday, February 8th. She gave the gift of life to her brother who had been on dialysis for two years. Of course I am very pro Northwestern. It's one of the top three transplant facilities in the United States. Anyone considering donating should feel comfortable that where they are donating has extensive experience in the living donation process. One thing Nancy mentioned which truly impressed me again about Northwesten, is right before her surgery one of her family members got there right before being taken into surgery. Obviously this would be an emtional moment for anyone (I would be crying my eyes out while trying to make a joke). But as she was being rolled into the OR the Surgeon said to her..are you alright and are you sure that you want to do this. I love this! It was kind and a reflection of responsible, appropriate care. Any donor has the right to back out at ANY time during the process. No one should ever go forward without confidence they are doing the right thing for themselves. I am so incredibly blessed to have made so many friends from mentoring. I am so happy that she found the sites and researched and educated herself as much as possible before she made her decision. This is what I so strongly recommend for anyone who is interested in donating. Don't let it be an emotional knee jerk reaction. Be responsible to yourself and get your questions answered and find someone who has been through it. Make sure you share your decision with family and friends and form a support network. You owe it to yourself to be responsible in your decision. That is exactly what Nancy did. Because she was traveling here to make her donation, it was a good opportunity to remind her about traveling home afterwards. It's not easy getting on a plane less than one week after donating! I suggested that she not have any carry-on luggage AT all other than her purse and manybe a comfort pillow. Unfortunately her husband had to leave before she did. I said get a sky cap when you arrive, tell them that you just donated a kidney and make sure they take you by wheel chair to your gate. Lets face it people in the airport can be incredibly rude. Oh did I just hit you with my 10,000 pound back back in your incision? Yes and thank you so much! Here let me run by you at 20 mph so I can get to the gate first with my 3,4,5 or 6 carry-ons. I suggested when she got to the gate to make sure that the staff at the counter knew she just donated and to ask if she could please pre-board not to risk being run over or have her incisions being knocked and bumped. When I traveled right after surgery which was not as quickly as Nancy, the airlines were very accomodating and more than happy to let me pre-board and even made sure I had a more comfortable area to sit. Because sitting for any length of time can be rather difficult after you first dontate make sure that you get up and stretch your legs, walk up and down the isle a couple of times during the flight. Ask the flight attendant if it's possible for your to deplane first or wait until everyone is off the place to exit. Protecting your fresh incision site is important and I honestly avoided crowded places for several weeks until I really felt my incisions were well healed. Dress comfortably I lived in sweats for weeks and frankly I didn't care I wasn't out to impress anyone. I just wanted comfort! So as I write this blog, Nancy is recovering very well and so is her brother. They are in awe of the entire process and as one of her family member said, it was like seeing a miracle in front you...well it is.

The Season of Joy

This is the time of year that we share the holidays with our loved ones, friends and family. Spending time and reflecting on past traditions, memories of those who are no longer with us and treating people just a bit kinder than the rest of the year. I only wish we would behave this way throughout the year. With the tragedy that sturck New Town, Conneticut, we are all left asking how...and why? Twenty amazing children and six incredible adults gone...taken away from their loved ones and family. It was and always will be my mission to give the gift of life and when devestation hits like this...it sickens me. My fear is that our society has become immune to the life of others, respecting the gift of life...sharing with others...and simply caring about other people. I don't have the answers, I wish I did. I just see a trend that I find frightening. Not trying to take the joy out of the Holidays. But hope that all of you will treat your families, loved ones, friends, people you don't know with just a little more kindness a gesture for those who have less and to remember how blessed we are to have our children, families with us. Because the greatest gift is...the gift of life.

Being Responsible to yourself through the donation process

Yep that's me being a bum and watching my favorite football team The Packers. There are times that we should all just lay back and relax, take things in that we enjoy. But when it comes to donating a kidney well...it's time that you make yourself accountable for your well being. In many of my posts I have given lists and ideas of questions that you should ask during the early stages of going throuh testing, being prepared for when you come home, what to expect in the healing process. As I continue to mentor others that are either thinking about donating or are in the process of donating I have to stop and remember that not everyone is as agressive as me. I have no trouble speaking what is on my mind or any concerns I have. In other words, I suppose I am a big mouth. I have an enormous respect for anyone in the medical community. But how can I say this delicately...ok I can't. Doctors are just like anyone else and when I look at it as a marketing manager, my analysis is if you're not getting what you need from one...there are plenty of others! It is imperative that you feel comfortable with your team and you should be able to discuss any questions or concerns that you have. They should take whatever time is necessary to make you feel comfortable and that any concerns or questions have been answered fully. This should be during testing, donation and after donation. If an explanation is given to you in vocabulary or mannerism you don't understand just hold up your hand and say whoa...I am not understanding this. Could you please use different terminology I am not a medical expert. If you have any issues or concerns it is your responsibilty to communicate these to the medical transplant team, especially your transplant coordinator. People always tell me well I don't want to bother them, or I don't want to call too often...I say call them whenever you have a concern. You just donated a kidney! You just gave life to another human being. What could be more important than your well being now? I can see people from the medical community cringing now as they read this but frankly, I don't care. Donors need to feel that their health is important especially following their donation. I have had people call me in agony and the first words out of my mouth are "call your transplant coordinator immediately". If they don't call back within 1 hour keep calling every hour but you must be pro-active and unafraid to make these calls. One area that many donors overlook because we are all anxious to get get back to "ourselves" and a normal routine is mental well being. Although the percentage is low, there are people who struggle with depression following donation. Your mental well being is just as important as your physical and you should not heistate for one moment to call and ask to set up an appointment to meet with one of your transplant team members. Do not be intimidated. Command the respect that you deserve in your care. Make sure that you reserach different facilities and how many live donations they have performed. This information is available for every authorized transplant facility in the United States on the OPTN site.

The Two Year Check Up

Well it was my final two year check up with Northwesten Hospital this week. I was anxious to have all my testing done which included bloodwork, creatine level check and of course the urine test (which I can perform at a moments notice). I was thrilled to get the results that my creatine level was at 1.09 which is pefect and actually lower from the immediate checks ups following my kidney donation. Naturally because I am OCD I made a massive list of questions that I wanted to ask since this was my final visit. It's actually something I do for any appointment and I suggest you do the same. I have a tendency to go in 80 different directions at once and always end up missing information that I wanted.

So once I completed all my testing and had time with the surgeon as well as the PA, I began my grilling of questions. The fantastic thing about being a living kidney donor and mentoring to others is that you learn so much about the after thoughts and concerns of donation. One thing that I was a bit relived to learn was that I had always heard that food poisioning could be fatal for those with one kidney. The truth is...it's not the food poisioning it's the severe de-hydration that can come with it that can truly be a threat to your one kidney. Here is a good rule of thumb... if you can't keep water or ice chips down in the first 24 hours then you should see your primary care physician and most likely have an IV of saline to re-hydrate. This can actually apply to any flu or severe de-hydation situations in general. I had also heard that a diet too high in protein was not a good thing. What I did learn is that if you maintain a normal healthy diet that's all you need to be concerned about. If you are however, a person who has numerous protein shakes and protein bars on top of a diet that is just high protein, it can be extremely difficult for the kidney to handle and can create issues with the one kidney. Ahh yes....a photo of the man who took my kidney

My incisions are barely visible and I have to thank him for that everytime I see him. That's the least I can do since the first words out of my dry mouth to him in re-covery (and I am sure my breath was not tic tac fresh)....Did it work? Yes it did....Did it work? Yes it did...I think I asked it at least 10 times. Of course before leaving the hospital two hours later after seeing the entire transplant team that I had, I of course had to then read my list of things that I would love to see improved for the living donors. No, I am not shy....but they smiled and nodded the whole time so I feel that I compelted my mission on that. Two years pass by so quickly that I have yet to figure out why the transplant centers don't follow the donors on an annual basis for the duration of their lives. I do believe that donors deserve at least an annual creatine level check on an annual basis. I stand firm on that and now that my check up period with the transplant team has come to end it will now be my responsibility to make sure that I have my creatine level checked by my primary care physician on a regular basis and I hope you all will do the same. You have given the gift of life and it's equally important for you to be responsible for making sure that you maintain your good health. I would also think that follow up surveys and longer monitoring of living donors will provide very important data for those considering donation now and particularly in the future. Quantative surveys should be implemented (even mandated) so that we have more concise, clear information on being living donors. Although I'd like to think I am still in my thirties (my mind is) but our bodies change with age and because of our donation it truly is important for us to be responsible to ourselves. Especially your blood pressure. I lucked out on that because I have always and still do have low blood pressure but hypertension is something you should check annually as well. Ahh Sara the PA who has answered at least a hundred questions for me....

Sara has been incredible every visit I've had in answering my numerous lists of questions and never rushing me through the exams. I was very lucky to have her as part of my team and she answered each and everyone one of them. Because I feel so fortunate that my Living Donor experience has been such a positive one...I urge anyone considering becoming a living donor to truly put in the time and research in deciding where they want to go for their donation process. For me personally, regardless of where I live, I would not want to be at a facility that didn't have an extremely high level of experience in living donations. You can look up all of the the transplant hospitals on the OPTN site and it will tell you how many deceased donors transplants they have performed as well as how many living donor transplants they have done each year. So now I continue on having mentored 25 people through the donation process... and hope to again provide additional information for those who are considering be a living donor as well as continue research projects and making the Living Donor experience a better one.

Two Years and always active in improving the Living Donor experience

I can't believe its been two years since I donated a kidney. These two years have been fantastic for so many reasons. As a golfer, there is a saying that you meet then nicest people on the golf course (unless you've had to witness some of my shots). Well you meet the nicest people in the kidney world. It is amazing how many friends I have made along this journey. In two years I've had the pleasure of mentoring twenty three people through the process and I hope it continues to be many more. One thing I would like to clarify is that the word altruistic donor really referred to in the medical community as a non-designated donor. My opinion is that anyone who donates a kidney to someone they know or someone they don't know has given a gift that is beyond compare. I continue to keep very active in researching stories and news for not only donors but also from the recipients side. Now that I have two years under my belt, I can see where there are some major issues that need to be addressed for living donors. UNOS mandates that all transplant hospitals must provide a two year follow up program to living donors. There is no question in my mind that this time period should be extended on an annual basis for the lifetime of all donors. Why? Because people who donate should have the same follow up care that a recipient has and more importantly I would think that the transplant centers would want to follow donors for gathering data and making it possible for future donors to have have as much information as possible to make their decision on donating. Secondly, once the two years have passed it then becomes the responsibility financially to continue monitoring their own creatine leves and kidney well being. This issue does not translate that I have any regrets...I would do it again. But because of my passion amd belief living donors are the only way to decrease those recipients on the national waiting list, I believe there should be more responsibility in monitoring the donor. One of my biggest concerns is that if this is not implemented that there will be many living donors that do not continue to check their creatine levels because they either don't have the financial means or insurance, or that they just don't continue to monitor their own well being. Because you have to go through rigid medical testing prior to being cleared as a donor is very important to both you and the recipient. I was thrilled to kniow that I was healthy enough to be a donor. But don't allow a false sense of security in that. We age...our bodies change in the circle of life and follow ups are crucial to your well being. Next week is my two year follow up visit. Trust me I have a list of questions to ask when I am there since this will be my last check up. Remember that you have given the gift of life... now its time to be responsible to yourself for you own well-being!

Reaching out for Help

Many of you know from reading my past blogs that Harvey Mysel, founder of the Living Kidney Donors Network was and is my mentor for not only becoming a living donor, but also for being a living donor advocate to others. He has educated thousands of people on how to find a living donor as well as educate them on the many options available such as kidney pairings. LKDN has been instrumental to the well being of many recipients.

Harvey himself is a recipient of a living kidney from his beautiful wife Amy. Unfortunately Harvey is now in need of another transplant. I ask all of you who read this to please reach out to anyone you many know who is considering being a donor to think about Harvey. Below is his letter that I hope you will take the time to read about the latest conditions that Harvey is facing.

Harvey Mysel – Kidney Transplant Update March 1, 2012
The transplanted kidney I received in 2007 has been damaged as a result of the BK Virus I contracted. While the BK Virus is rare and terribly unfortunate, recent studies show that patients who have had the BK Virus do well when re-transplanted. To read more about the BK Virus go to: www.lkdn.org/Kidney_Graft_Loss_BK_Virus.pdf

I would be honored if you would serve as an advocate to let others know about my need. To do that you’ll need to know a few key things about being a kidney donor:

 We are born with an extra kidney. Studies show that kidney donors live a normal, healthy life with only one kidney and are no more likely to suffer kidney failure. Go to: www.lkdn.org/Long_Term_Effect_Kidney_Donors_Health.pdf to read a study from the “New England Journal of Medicine” about kidney donors’ health after their transplant. (An interesting fact to realize is 1 in every 750 people are born with one kidney and their life expectancy is the same as someone who is born with 2 kidneys.)

 As a result of the new anti-rejection drugs, the “matching” of donor/recipient has become much easier. For situations where the donor/recipient are not compatible, “kidney paired exchange” programs allow these donors to be paired and matched with other incompatible pairs. To learn more about the matching process go to: www.lkdn.org/LKDN_Matching.pdf For more information about kidney paired exchanges go to: www.lkdn.org/LKDN_Paired_Exchanges.pdf

 I’m blood type A, and can receive a kidney from a blood type O or A. Interestingly 85% of the population is one of these 2 blood types. The (+) and the (-) after the blood type is not a factor for kidney transplants. If a donor has an incompatible blood type, a kidney paired exchange program becomes an option.

 Organ donors need to be in good health, without high blood pressure, kidney, heart, liver or other major health issues. For more details on donor qualifications go to: www.lkdn.org/who_can_be_living_donor.html

 Donating a kidney involves a major surgical procedure, and the donor is usually in the hospital 1- 3 days. The recuperation period is anywhere from 14 - 21 days for those with an office job, and about 6 weeks if the individual’s work entails more physical labor. The majority of the procedures are done laparoscopically, with 3 - 4 small holes for the instruments. A small incision is made to remove the transplanted kidney.

 Medical expenses relating to the transplant are paid by the recipient’s (my) insurance company (Blue Cross Blue Shield). Donors could be reimbursed for lost wages or travel expenses.

If you would like to learn more about the donation process, please contact me and I would be happy to discuss it in detail with you.

I am working with Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago. In 2010, they performed 167 living kidney transplants, ranking them as the #2 hospital in the U.S. You could contact their Independent Living Donor Advocate, Jami Hanneman, MSW, LCSW, CCTSW 312-695-0828 who could answer questions (confidentially) and coordinate donor activity.

Please feel free to pass this information along to your family members and/or friends. Telling them about my situation will raise awareness and the potential of finding a compatible donor.

I greatly appreciate your support and concern.

Harvey

Office 312-473-3772
Mobile 847-912-7059
www.LKDN.org
http://www.facebook.com/LivingKidneyDonorsNetwork
http://LKDNblog.blogspot.com
www.twitter.com/LKDNorg
harvey@LKDN.org

Calling All Living Donors - New Survey

The Holiday Season is upon us and it's the time of year that we all start thinking about the past year and how fortunate we are. In these difficult times financially it is important to remember the things that we may have had to sacrifice are definitely replaced by those things that are true to our heart!

For all living Kidney Donors, I hope you will take a few minutes out of your schedule to take the survey below on after donation follow up care. It honestly just takes 3 minutes and it will help give us all better ideas of how we can make the living kidney donors follow up process a better one!
Cut and paste the following URL in your browser:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/follow-up_care


I would obviously love to see more people come forward and be a living kidney donor since I am convinced that is the only way we can reduce the waiting list. But I also have respect for those who would like to, but make the decision not to. It is a personal choice and only each individual can determine what it right for them. For me, I would do again if I could.

But what we all can think about this Holiday season are the small things that mean so much. It feels at times that our society has become so selfish in general that we just don't think about how important the small things are.

Share a smile just because...

Give a dollar to someone homeless and not judge what they will do with it.

Make an extra Holiday dish and share it with someone who might not be able to provide or cook on their own.

Go to the dollar store and buy a few little items to donate to children for the Holiday.

Think of someone who would love to come to your home and share a holiday meal with you and your family.

These things don't "cost" us anything but they can make such a huge difference in someones life.

Donate cell phones that you no longer need to the retailer where you have your services so they can give to a soldier in need.

Take some things that you no longer need, fun jewelry, little china items and donate them to a nursing home to be used as prizes for games that they play.

Donate blood.

I promise you that just making one small difference to someone, makes a big difference over all. I wish you and your family and friends the happiest of Holidays!

After being a Donor and Before - Taking Care of your health

It's been a year and half now since I donated my kidney. I am amazed how quickly the time has gone by. I've had the honor of mentoring 23 people through the process and other than donating, it's one of greatest joys.

I have noticed there are several common threads that come after the donation and are things that all donors should all have explored prior. One of the most important things to ask your transplant center, is what type of follow up program do they have for you as a living donor. If it's just a one week and one month check up there are many issues that you need to stop and think about.

My kidney donation transplant was done at Northwestern Hospital in Chicago. They have a two year follow up program for their livng donors. What I am hearing the most now from so many donors is that other than their one week and perhaps a month follow up check up...that's it.

The reality of the situation is that all tranpslant centers should have a uniformed program in following their donors. In my opinion, it should be more than two years but I am grateful that I have the two years compared to so many.

For all of you who are considering donating, ask up front exactly what their follow up program is. As a donor, it's very important to keep up with your blood work and creatine level checks. Since I am not a medical professional, I'll ask you to be sure to take the time to discuss this with your transplant team of what the normal level is...what to expect right after the surgery and how important it is for you to
monitor it on a regular basis. If they don't have a follow up program, understand that it will be your responsibility financially to make sure that you have this test performed with your own personal physician. I am personally convinced that transplant centers should have a much longer period of time that they monitor the living donor.

Make sure that your personal physician has a copy of your complete medical file from the transplant center. Your doctor will find this helpful in future testing needs.

Be sure to ask the transplant center if you have staples internally, ask what type they are. It makes a difference should you ever need an MRI in the future. Mine are titanium, which makes them completely MRI safe. You want to be sure that yours are as well since none of us know if we might need this test for any medical reason in the future.

Although most people are told not to take Advil or any type of Ibprofen, when you are discharged, there really isn't any formal list of medications to avoid..but there are. Certain antibiotics should be avoided...even over the counter common meds can contain ingredients that might not be your best choice. Therefore I suggest that you make best friends with your pharmacist. Mine has even made a notation in my file that I have one kidney. Whenever I feel that I need something from over the counter, i.e., allergy, cold, flu medications, I always ask the pharmacist if they are conducive to taking with having one kidney.

YOU must be your greatest advocate. Do not be intimidated about asking questions and calling your transplant center. That is what they are there for. There are no stupid questions. This is your body and it's up to you take the best care possible of it. Too many people are shy or feel that they are stupid for calling. Don't let this just be just for physical issues, but emotionally as well.

Many people have expressed to me frustration after donating that they just aren't up to par after two weeks. I have to say the majority of people that I have mentored did not in fact feel ready to assume their normal duties in just two weeks.
Although the superficial incisions may have healed and are much better, you must remember that the internal healing process is longer. You may feel more tired. You might not be comfortable driving in two weeeks. This is just very basic time frame.
I have known people who were back to normal in one week, but the majority really not ready for four weeks or longer. Every person is different.

It is my hopes that transplant centers will expand on many of these issues for future and past donors. Donating is an incredible experience and I have positively no regrets. I've never second guessed my decision. I would like to see the living donor experience be even better and it is my hopes that UNOS and the transplant centers will understand how valuable their living donors are and how much information there is yet to be learned from each and every one of them.

Calling all Living Donors - Share your donor experience and help others!

It never ceases to amaze me how many people who are becoming living donors or contemplating the idea, continue to get in touch with myself and many other donors.
There is no question in my mind that this is because of the need to hear it from someone who has gone through the experience themselves, who is removed from the medical community and can help them understand what to expect in the process and what concerns they may have in the healing process afterwards.

As I have said in earlier posts, other than being an altruistic donor, mentoring to others is without a doubt one of my greatest joys! Numerous other donors have found that to be their mission as well. Although transplant centers do educate their donors particularly from a medical perspective, it is my opinion they would do a much better job to have an in-house advocate who has been through the process and can just spend time with a donor in a relaxed environment to anwer any questions they may have and the advantage to speak with someone who has actually gone through the process. One of the things that I feel strongly about is that one of the elements that medical staffs don't understand is that so many people are intimidated by them and their mind goes blank, or they think their questions are "stupid" or a waste of the staffs time.

I developed the survey below for Living Donors to share their experience so that I am able to along with several others who are mentors, hone in on the areas that they would like to have had better knowledge about so it can be passed on in the mentoring process to new donors.

It is simple, doesn't take more than 15 minutes to complete and will help to make the mentoring process even better for those who are dedicated to helping others through the process.

Here is the link for the survey, simply copy and paste it and it's that easy!

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/9WVJLSY


Giving takes many forms, sharing your experience will be a great help to others. Thank you for your participation and don't hesitate to let me know if you have any questions.

What a Great One Year Anniversary

June 8, 2011 was my one year check up after donating at Northwestern Hospital here in Chicago. I feel great, but you are always happy for the opportunity to have follow up care. My creatinine level with one kidney is 1.0 which is perfect. Whew... great to hear those words! I can't stress enough how important it is for living donors to make sure that they know what their creatinine level is. If for some reason you do not have follow up visits at the hospital that you donated then please be sure to consult with your primary physician and discuss how often this test should be performed. Fortunately Northwestern does have a very pro-active check up program for living donors. That is not always the case. I've heard from several donors that once they have donated, it's good-bye and thats the end of it. This is definitely something that should change with all transplant hospitals. Don't just tell us what we did was wonderful...then kiss us goodbye. Thank us by letting us know that our well being is equally important as the receipients.

June has been just the most incredible kideny month! Prior to my annual check up, on June 3, 2011, I was on my way to Washington D.C., to Georgetown University. I had been selected a couple of months ago to participate in a living donor study, which I was thrilled to be part of. The icing on the cake? Angela Stimpson, who was the first person I mentored through the living donor process was chosen as well to participate. Ok...there is no way I am not going to meet this incredible lady. I wrote Georgetown and told them that I would love to participate and that I knew Angela had been chosen as well. I asked them if there was any way possible that the two of us could be scheduled the same weekend so we could meet each other.
Thanks to Dr. Marsh and her incredible team, they made it happen.

June 3rd I landed at 12:45pm D.C. time. Angela's plane arrived at 1:15pm so I told her I would meet her in the baggage area. I was nervous...excited...nervous...wait did I say nervous? To finally meet this voice that I had become so close to over the last 10 months. To see her walking down the concourse...was incredible with her big smile. We just hugged..and it was hard to let go. What an honor and she is now mentoring to so many others.

The study was based on living donors and I do not want to compromise the study details in any way. It involved a great deal of computer tasks, written tasks, word tasks and an MRI as well as an in depth interview of my journey as an altruistic donor. I was nerous about the MRI so I told the team if there was a tumor the size of a grapefruit in there...I wanted to know. The testing lasted for more than seven hours. When I got back to the hotel I just looked at Angela and said, "you see these sweat pants I'm wearing? Thats what I am wearing tonight." Between all the testing of the day and anticipation of the weekend, I was exhausted! But I do have a beautiful photo of my brain just to prove to people I have one! I've decided to carry it in my wallet to whip out for the perfect moment.

The weather was beautiful so we walked to Martins Pub and had a postively wonderful meal. I think we both would enjoy nothing more than to just take part in studies on a full time basis. It meant so much to sit and chat with someone who appreciates your journey and you can share the moments and laugh with. This is the beauty as well as importance of mentoring others. My journey has lead me to a very special kidney sister. Once again I have to thank Harvey Mysel of the Living Kidney Donors Network who put Angela and I in contact with each other.


lkdn.org Living Kidney Donors Network
oksolo.blogspot.com Angela Stimpson's blog
kidneymama.com hosted by Nancy Murrell

One Year Anniversary of Donating a Kidney!

April 26, 2011 marked my one year anniversary of donating a kidney. To be honest I can't believe how quickly the time has gone by. I woke up yesterday with a smile on my face, thinking about where I was last year, the 8 people that were able to get a kidney because of my altruistic donation and just felt that "Life Was Good".

I had a beautiful note from my recipient and had a chance to speak with him over the phone as well. I asked him to wish my kidney Happy Anniversary for me! In the evening, I attended Harvey Mysel's workshop "Finding a Donor" which was very well attended here in Chicago. As I was sitting there listening to the questions from those needing a kidney I was amazed as always of just how many people have not had access to options to receive a kidney! I haven't come up with any one answer except there is a major lack of information coming from sources who the kidney patients have contact with. Harvey Mysel of the Living Kidney Donors Network is the person that is providing this much needed information for these individuals.

As a donor and mentor to others who are either donating or considering donating, I am equally an advocate of the need for EARLY education to those needing a kidney.
As the number of those who need a kidney continue to grow, now up to 88,000 on the waiting list for a deceased donor and most likely a 5 year wait...I am convinced that living donors are the only way to see this list decrease. Last year when I donated the waiting list was 83,000. In just one year another 5,000 have been added.
11 people die each day waiting for a kidney. So when people ask my why I donated my response is...because I can make a difference.

After the worshop several people who attended said to me "You are a really special person to donate a kideny" My response to that is "there are a lot me's out there"
I've had the pleasure of mentoring to many altrusitic donors. Angela Stimpson being one of them who has an outstanding blog and continues to be a mentor and advocate to others. I am not unique or special...I am however devoted to seeing kidney recipients have their deam come true in getting a kidney and being able to live their lives without dialysis.

I respect and understand that being an altruistic donor is not for everyone. What I can share with you is that if I could do it all over again...I would in a heartbeat.

Meet Brenda Bogue, Altruistic Living Kidney Donor

As an altruistic living kidney donor, there is one thing other than my donation that brings me incredible joy...that is to mentor other individuals who are thinking about
becoming a living donor. I feel blessed to have met so many incredible people while mentoring. It's as if I have a "kidney community" of wonderful friends. I hope all of you will take the time to read Brenda's journey...as she too would like to become a mentor and advocate to others who would like the benefit of communicating with others who have been through the process.

BRENDA'S STORY

I read the newspaper every day...my journey began this past Summer when I came across an article about a man who lost his 16 year old daughter in a tragic car accident. His daughter was an organ donor and he was very inspired when he learned that her heart valves saved another person's life. In her memory, he became an advocate to encourage people to become organ donors. Early on he learned of the need and the opportunity to be a living kidney donor...and he did just this...which is what the article was about.

I too had made the decision to donate my organs upon my death. But before reading the article this past Summer, I had no idea that it was possible to be a living kidney donor. I had no idea how many people were on the waiting list for a kidney, 87,000 and continues to rise. Over 5,000 people a year die while waiting for a kidney. I did not realize that an individual can lead a normal life with one kidney. In fact 1 in 700 are born with one kidney and lead a perfectly normal life. Furthermore, I was encouraged to hear that the donor's surgery is laparoscopic which is far less invasive then traditional surgery...so this means a much shorter recovery time. Although there is a risk in any surgery, being a living kidney donor overall is very safe.

I am a Christian and therefore I seek out God's wisdom through prayer before making any major decisions. Before I even finished reading the newspaper article, I felt God prompting me to consider being a living kidney donor. I imagined what it would be like for one of my family members whose kidneys were failing and in need of a kidney transplant...knowing that his/her life would be greatly compromised and significantly shortened. Undoubtedly, a few of my family members would step up to donate...but...what if we learned that none of us were a match? This happens approximately 30% of the time. Being a family member doesn't automatically mean you are a match to another family member. We would be disheartened and feel that hope was lost. The average waiting list for a deceased donor kidney is approximately five years. But then imagine being told that there is an option called a kidney pairing! A kidney pairing can be done if you are not a match for a specific recipient and the same situation exists for another donor and recipient but you match the others recipient. Hope is given back!

My decision to be an altruistic donor came after praying to God for guidance, talking with my husband Mike and my sister Stacey. Putting myself in "someone elses shoes", and reflecting on the forty-three years of good health that God has blessed me with...for me it was a fairly easy decision.

In the subsequent weeks I did further research on the internet on the topic of being a living kidney donor. This research included reading about the experiences of two recent altruistic donors, Cara Yesawich and Angela Stimpson (oksolo.blogspot.com). I found their blog sites to be very informative and inspiring. Another valuable site with a wealth of information is The Living Kidney Donors Network (lkdn.org). Harvey Mysel started the Living Kidney Donors Network and is a recipient from a living donor as well. His site is dedicated to those who need a kidney as well as those who are interested in being a living kidney donor. I printed several articles from this site for my family members to read so they could fully understand the process and minimal risks.

A very valuable resource of information and support to me during my journey of becoming an altruistic donor, was the mentoring I received from Cara Yesawich. Cara is the altruistic donor domino that allowed 8 people to receive a kidney in Northwestern Hospital's largest kidney pairing in April of 2010. She is passionate about being a mentor for others who are on this journey and came to the hospital to offer her support immediately following my surgery..what a blessing she was to me! For anyone considering becoming a living donor, I strongly encourage you to take advantage of the "gift" of having a mentor. I welcome the opportunity to share my experience with anyone. My email contact is brenb24@gmail.com

My surgery was on December 30th and because I am an altruistic donor, 3 people were able to receive a kidney in a pairing at Northwestern Hospital. I experienced moderate pain the first several days and slept a lot. After a week I turned the corner and was able to return to work half days (my energy was still not at 100%)I was back to work full time by the third week and am now about four weeks out from surgery and back to normal.

I plan on starting to run again in a week or two and am registered to run another marathon in September.

I received a beautiful card from the family of the gentleman who received my kidney in the kidney pairing..part of it reads:

Dear Brenda,

It is impossible to thank someone for a gift such as you have given to us.
Dialysis allowed my Dad to live, but your gift of a kidney has given him a
renewed quality of life worth living, and for that, we are eternally grateful.

The sacrifice that I made in donating one of my kidneys was minimal compared to the gift of giving an improved quality of life, which I was able to give someone else.


ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

The Living Kidney Donors Network - lkdn.org
Angela Stimpson, Altruistic Donor - oksolo.blogspot.com
Kidney Mama, Nancy Murrell - kidneymama.com

The Different Types of Living Kidney Donors

I wish all of you a joyous New Year filled with hope and love. On December 30, 2010 I had the pleasure of visiting "Brenda" at Northwestern Hospital who is an altruisitc donor like myself. Brenda is my eleventh "kidney sister/brother" I have had the pleasure getting to know. Brenda had contacted me to gain insight directly from someone who had been through the process and we spoke for almost two hours during one of her visits for testing at Northwestern Hospital before her procedure.

Because of Brenda's altruistic donation, three people received a kidney! I am convinced that there are many out there that would like the opportunity to contact others who have been through the surgery to ease their minds and answer the questions we always seem to forget to ask. For those of you new to my blog and would like the history of my journey donating a kidney, please be sure to go back to the older posts to read the experience from the beginning. It will help answer questions you may have.

That is one of the reasons I like to not only speak with people myself, but refer them to others that I know who have been through the process as well such as Angela Stimpson who has a blog called oksolo.blogspot.com as well as Harvey Mysel, founder of The Living Kidney Donors Network, lkdn.org Brenda will be putting together her story for me and I will share that with you all on the next posting.

My surgery was on April 26, 2010 at Northwestern. I was the altruistic donor/domino that allowed eight people to recieve a kidney. Since then it has been my mission to serve as an advocate to other donors as well as to The Living Kidney Donors Network.
I received the Circle of Honor Award at the John Brockington 9th Annual Pro Athletes for Life Gala in October 2010, appeared with Harvey Mysel of the Living Kidney Donors Network on WTTW Channel 11 here in Chicago, have attended several fundraisers for kidney donor awareness and I am sitll amazed at how many people are totally confused about the Living Donor process and how it works.

Just to add a little humor here, I literally had a woman who heard that I was the domino for eight people to get a kidney and she came up to me to congratulate me and dead seriously asked, did they cut your kidney up into eight pieces? I had that deer looking into headlights look and certainly didn't want to make her feel uncomfortable. So I explained how the kidney pairing works. This posting I want to clarify what the difference is between a designated donor and an altruistic donor.

A designated donor is someone who has a loved one, friend, or someone that they know, who needs a kidney and are willing to donate one of their kidneys on their behalf. Now, understand just because you are a family member or friend, you are not always a perfect match for the person needing a kidney. BUT, the good news is, that doesn't stop them from getting a kidney. You will go through testing to determine if you are an appropriate match for your recipient. If you are not, then you should discuss being part of a kidney pairing, where your kidney would go to someone else who is a match and that persons designated donors kidney would go to the recipient that you know.

An altruistic donor, is someone like myself and many others, who would like to donate a kideny but does not have someone to donate to. It is something I wanted to do to give someone else an opportunity for a better life and avoid diaylsis.
With an altrusitc donor, sometimes hospitals can use the altrustic donor as the "domino" for a kidney pairing. Sometimes its two people sometimes its six and in my case, eight people (16 people total involved in the pairing) received a kidney.
The fact the someone donates a kidney, a gift of life, is a blessing beyond words for the recipient.

There are no stupid questions. When you or someone you love is suffering from kidney failure, don't hesitate to research and contact as many people as you can. The Living Kidney Donors Network, lkdn.org is dedicated in explaining all options for the recipient as well as the donor. One of the new programs that The Living Kidney Donors Network is offering is a beautiful starfish to thank those of you who have received a kidney and would like a special way to thank your donor.

One of the most common things I hear from people who I have mentored is "I can't believe more people aren't doing this". Well as with anything, not everyone is alike but for those of you who have, or are going to donate I can assure you that it is a decision you will not only never forget...but never regret.

It's one thing to drive a new mercedes up to someones door and say surprise!!! But when you give someone the gift of life...how do you possibly top that? I consider it a true honor to be a living kidney donor.