Living Donor Kidney Transplantation
Give the Ultimate Gift of Life
Living donor kidney transplantation occurs when a healthy individual donates one of his or her kidneys to a person with end stage renal disease, thus sharing the gift of life. Currently, there are more than 100,000 people on the national kidney transplant waiting list in the United States. Every day, about 12 of these transplant candidates die or become too sick before a deceased donor organ becomes available. Living donor kidney transplantation allows individuals in need to by-pass the lengthy waiting list.
The Path to Donation
Living donation is not as rare as you might think. In fact, 47% of all transplanted organs in the U.S. come from living donors. Through the act of donation, a healthy person can help a person with end stage renal failure return to a healthier, more functional life.
There are no additional risks when receiving a living donated kidney, but there are many benefits, including:
- Improved graft survival. The average living donor transplant lasts 18 to 20 years versus 8 to 10 years from a deceased donor.
- Shorter time on dialysis before transplantation. Patients are able to get off dialysis sooner, or avoid it all together.
- Fewer complications after transplant. For example, transplant patients who receive a living donor kidney usually see immediate function of the transplanted organ.
- Procedure can be scheduled at a time that works best for the donor and recipient. Planning the date of transplant surgery in advance also allows optimal attention to medical issues before surgery.
- Better quality of life.
Being a living donor allows you to give the ultimate gift of life to someone in need. Donors are most often close family members, spouses, friends or co-workers of the recipient. The first step to becoming a donor is to contact the transplant center to complete a basic screening and to determine if you are compatible with the transplant recipient. Potential donors are encouraged to talk with prior donors about their full range of experiences with living donation.
If you are interested in being a living donor, contact the Transplant Center at SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital at 314-257-8310 or complete our contact us form. You will be asked to complete a short health history, and the nurse coordinator will guide you through the next steps.
For more information about becoming a living donor, visit the National Kidney Foundation.
If you are interested in becoming a living kidney donor please take this questionnaire to see if you are eligible.
Identify a Living Donor Kidney Champion
If you are in need of a kidney transplant, we encourage you to identify a “Kidney Champion,” someone who can help teach others about your condition and your transplant options.
Who Can Be a Kidney Champion?
Anyone can be your kidney champion. A kidney champion is often someone who wanted to donate a kidney but was ruled-out because of their own health issues, or even children who are too young to donate themselves, but want to help a loved one with kidney failure.
How Can Your Kidney Champion Help?
Some examples of ways your kidney champion can help include sending a letter or email to tell people about your condition, hosting a gathering or creating a Facebook page or website. Many find it helpful to download our living donor toolkit, and to access the educational materials and tools we have available at the SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital Transplant Center.
Getting Started
Whether you are donating a kidney or receiving one, it is important to maintain a healthy lifestyle and follow your physician’s instructions for care.
We know this can seem like an overwhelming process, but the Transplant Center at SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital will be there to help you every step of the way. Contact us today at 314-257-8310 to schedule an appointment or to learn more about what options are available to you.
SSM Health Transplant Center at SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital is proud to partner with the SRTR Living Donor Collective (LDC), a national registry that studies the long-term outcomes of living donors.
SSM Health Transplant Center at SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital is proud to partner with the SRTR Living Donor Collective (LDC), a national registry that studies the long-term outcomes of living donors.
Our transplant center is part of the APOL1 Long-term Kidney Transplantation Outcomes (APOLLO) Network, a national study supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) that is working to address racial disparities in kidney transplant outcomes.