Baylor Scott & White Transplant Patient Stories

No. Donors can be a family member, friend, co-worker, or someone you don’t know. Donors don’t have to be related, have the same blood type, or be of the same race or gender. They simply need to be healthy and willing.

No. Kidney donation does not affect life expectancy, and donors can continue living a normal life with only one kidney.

Many donors may experience gratification from potentially improving the health of a friend, loved one, or stranger and extending their life. Donors may also feel a sense of pride and satisfaction that they’ve made it possible for someone on the transplant waiting list to receive a kidney much sooner.

The basic requirements include:

• 18 years of age or older. Individuals over 65 years of age will be considered on a case-by-case basis
• Good health with no major medical problems
• Healthy weight
• Not pregnant
• No major psychiatric concerns
• Voluntarily donating (not feeling pressured to donate)
• Routine age-appropriate cancer screenings such as mammograms and colonoscopies

You must first go through an evaluation to determine if it is safe for you to donate, which includes:

• Blood tests to evaluate your general health and kidney function
• Imaging tests (such as a CT scan) to assess the kidneys
• Heart and lung tests to assess function and the ability to tolerate surgery
• Nephrologist and transplant surgeon consultations
• Living Donor Advocate consultation
• Social Work consultation

You may be disqualified from donating if:

• Your kidneys are not functioning properly
• You are at high risk of developing kidney disease in the future
• You are being coerced into donating/not making the decision willfully

Surgery to remove your kidney is done using general anesthesia, so you will be sedated during the procedure. Most living donor kidney surgeries are done with robotic-assisted techniques. This surgical approach leaves only a 3-inch incision along the bikini line to remove the kidney and 3 small entry points for robotic access. Robotic surgery results in easier recovery and better outcomes for the donor. The surgery takes around three hours. Immediately following surgery, you will be taken to the recovery room.

The transplant team will regularly check on your recovery and monitor you for signs of complications. While every donor’s individual recovery rate is different, kidney donors typically remain in the hospital for two to three days.

After your stay in the hospital, recovery at home is generally two to four weeks. In many cases, you can resume pre-donation activities and return to work in about three to six weeks.

The donor’s medical expenses, including the costs of the evaluation, doctor’s fees and hospitalization are covered by the recipient’s health insurance. Verification of the recipient’s insurance coverage will occur before the donor evaluation process starts.