What to Think About After Reading This Information
Interesting Facts:
- NARP’s first anonymous living donor transplant was done in January, 2006.
- ALTRA’s first anonymous living donor transplant was November, 2010.
Thinking about transplant early is one of the best ways to be ready for the journey ahead.
For many people who qualify for kidney transplant, it’s the best way of treating chronic kidney disease. The long-term success of transplant is good for people of all ages. Your transplant team will work with you to see if transplant is a good option for you. The team will help you and your support people go through the process as you wait for a kidney transplant.
A living kidney transplant, rather than a kidney from a deceased donor, is the most successful of all transplant procedures, and the kidney often lasts longer. A kidney from a living donor is usually healthier; usually works right away; and there is less waiting time for the surgery. Through living donation, you may never even need to start on chronic dialysis. A pre-emptive transplant has better long term outcomes.
Transplant has many benefits and can save your life, but from testing to transplant can take a long time, and there are many things that need to be done for a transplant to happen. There will be a wait for a transplant, and this wait is different for everyone and depends on whether you’re having deceased donation or living donation.
Your transplant team is here to help you. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, and even if you decide not to choose transplant today, you may decide it’s right for you in the future.
Actions to Take
For potential living donors:
Call the Living Donor Program:
Please note that potential living donors must make the call on their own.
For transplant recipients:
Get the testing (assessment) done. Let the Transplant Program decide if you can have a transplant. The program will then work with you to make a realistic transplant plan and talk about the timing. The program will then tell you what you need to do next.
