The Donor
“My uncle was going to have to go on dialysis. In 2003, I donated a kidney to him. It’s been 13 years. I don’t feel any different. I don’t even think about it anymore,” said Steve Setchfield whose grandfather passed away from polycystic kidney disease (PKD).
“My uncle actually has three kidneys. He has the two that he was born with and then he has the one from me. Because they don’t typically take out the bad ones unless there’s probably a lot of bleeding or a lot of pain. They still work [at] a 5-15% capacity. The new one that they put in, they put [it] on his right side, right along his belt line in front of his right hip. It doesn’t go in the same place,” Setchfield said.
After the Transplantation
Setchfield says the donor and recipient, in his experience, traded places; He (the donor) went in feeling pretty good. But, he came out feeling lousy because he’d just had surgery. His uncle (the recipient) went in feeling lousy because his kidneys were failing. But, he came out feeling great. Typically, both patients remain in the hospital for about three to seven days. The donor is usually advised to refrain from heavy lifting for about six weeks.
The Guarantee
According to the National Kidney Foundation, the United Network for Organ Sharing, UNOS, gives priority to living donors should they need an organ transplant after donating.
“They mentioned to me that if something were to happen to me, if I were to have a car accident, have kidney failure, get shot or something like that where I need a transplant, I go to the top of the list. I guess we have priority if you’re a living donor,” said Setchfield.
More Info?
Don’t know anyone who needs a kidney, but would still like to donate? Plenty of donors give simply because they are compelled to help someone who is in need. Visit Kidney.org for more information on becoming a living donor.
If you would like to register or learn more about becoming a deceased donor, visit DonateLife.net.