Spare a kidney?

John, You have made tremendous progress.

You have great medical team and a great attitude.

Please don't wait so long to give us an update next time.


Rick

I'd like to say something that I think our friend Jatki might be too modest to discuss. It is the subject of donating kidneys.

You might not know that healthy people do not need their second kidney and it is OK to donate your second kidney to someone in need. And you do not need to be a relative to do this. In fact, you dont need to even be a tissue match, a blood type match, or any other kind of match to do this.

Let me briefly explain.

First, there are wonderful anti rejection drugs that will allow for succesful transplants between non relatives with the same blood type. And then, there is another option if there is "no match" at all.

These are called "paired donations" and let me explain how these work.

Bob with B blood needs a kidney. But Bob's inlaw has "A" blood.
Sally with A blood needs a kidney. But Sally's husband has "B" blood.

In the paired donation, all four go to the same hospital and the switch is done simulataneously. Several transplant centers do this around the country including Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, UCLA in LA, and there are hospitals in NY and elsewhere. Its relatively new and growing.

The US Government wants these live kidney donations so much that Uncle Sam will pick up ALL costs for the live donors. ALL costs including testing, surgery, etc.

The wait for a cadaver kidney can be five years or longer.

Should a live donor later need a transplant, they immediately go to the top of the transplant lists and can be assured of getting a transplant within two weeks.

And there are "anonymous donors" who dont know anyone who needs a kidney, but want to do something good, offer their kidney, and take a one week vacation to do it.

The live kidney donation is a simple surgery involving one night in the hospital, probably no pain at all, and its done through tiny holes (laproscopic).

Think about it.

I had a kidney transplant two and a half years ago. I had a cadaver transplant, but at the time, my wife and brother in law were both going through testing. My wife for the paired donation (not the same blood type as me) my brother in law is the same blood type.

There are various websites with information about donating a kidney loaded with information. If you ever wanted to do "real good" this is a way to do it.

Bumping up this is really important.

Thanks Money..

My mother ended up with one kidney. High BP killed the other one. That said she would not accept any of our kidneys.

Sheltie does your mom's remaining kidney work ok?

Mom passed away in 2002 but her remaining kidney did work ok. She would not take a kidney or do a lung transplant. Her reason was there were younger people with their full life a head of them. My mom was 73 when she passed and was a really special person and I miss her.

John:

My prayers are with you for a very speedy transplant. Hope all works out well.

Diane

All the best to you, John.
So wonderful, your progress.
May God speed that kidney your way!

That is some cool and amazing stories. It takes a special and extremely generous person to donate a live organ. I don't know if I could donate my organs while alive but I am an organ donor when I die. My driver's license has the box checked to be an organ donor.

Sheltie, I am sorry your mom passed. But even if alive today she would not be allowed to have a transplant with one working kidney. You only need one kidney. In fact, you only need 10% of one kidney to lead a normal life. I know. My kidneys were failing from diabetes over a 16 year period. I went from normal kidney function to only about 3% function (when I went on dialysis) over that 16 year period. For about a year I lived with a 5% kidney function and lived quite well.

What is surprising to many people is that they have only one functioning kidney and they don't find out until they get tested to donate a kidney to a relative.

Thanks everyone! I really appreciate all the well wishes.

Money, you're spot on with the kidney swap. They have it at my hospital (washington hospital center in DC). I have 2 brothers and a sister who i can ask for a kidney and i'm pretty sure one will do it. And yes, its exactly like you described it, overnight for the 4 people involved ,minimum invasion,easy peasy(well,as far as any operation can be HAHA).

I haven't gotten on any list or approached the swap avenue yet,as no dr ,or whoever the kidney donor gods that be, will let me have a kidney if any other organs are failing. Last weeks tests on heart and liver were last steps to being clear for a kidney transplant. So YIPPEEEE!!!!!!

I have one more operation to go in march. My right hand is still in a partial claw like state and my doctor has some work to do there so I can hopefully get my hand functionality back close to normal. (oh yea, i didnt mention i used to be a righty, had to learn,or still learning lefty. What a bitch that is! Simple things you take for granted so much,try eating a meatball hoagie with one hand,or write your name etc. The best one was learning to go #2! try it you'll see exactly what I mean! HAHHAHA!)

Thanks agai for the knd words everybody

LATER<JOHN