When my friend told me she was on the list for a  kidney transplant, I was curious. I knew kidney disease was bad but thought it was controllable, similar to someone who has diabetes. Per the Mayo Clinic, proper diabetes management includes blood sugar management, exercise, hydration, proper usage and storage of insulin, and carbohydrate management. Vigilance is required to manage diabetes, but if implemented, life can be lived normally especially with the advent of new medications, and treatments such as an insulin pump.

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 Sadly, kidney disease is much more disruptive especially when a patient begins dialysis, and/or has been deemed eligible for a transplant. At that point life is managed around the dialysis schedule. Kidney disease, especially when moving toward end-stage renal failure is very disruptive to everyday life, with the sole goal being to stay alive until a donor kidney can be acquired. Management of symptoms can include a vastly restricted diet, especially restricting protein, elimination of alcohol, and a dramatic reduction in fluid consumption. Per the University of Maryland medical center, there are two types of dialysis, hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis. Hemodialysis is usually administered in a lab or hospital setting 3-5 times a week for several hours at a time and your day must be planned around the schedule, this type of dialysis requires the placement of a port surgically. Peritoneal dialysis is done through the walls of the abdomen and also requires the placement of a surgical port. This can be done at home but requires a certain amount of expertise and commitment as the process can take hours to complete.

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When end stage renal failure has been diagnosed,the search, and the wait begin for a new kidney. There are currently no artificial kidneys with any long-term viability, although there is research occurring to develop one, and an artificial kidney has worked for one week(Gadye, 2023).  That leaves a transplant as the only long-term viable solutions.

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The two donor kidney options that currently are a cadaver kidney from someone who has already passed away, or a kidney from a living donor who voluntarily agrees to donate. Per United States law it is against the law to pay someone to donate although their medical expenses and follow up medical care will be covered. The  lifetime medical savings for a patient who receives a kidney is anywhere from $250,000 to $500,000 dollars (Gershun,2023) even with the medications that must be taken to defer rejection.

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I was a living donor and my donation was specifically directed to a friend. Sometime living donors give to an unknown patient who is is a match to the donor.

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My experience as a donor was very smooth. I live approximately an hour from the transplant hospital so travel expenses were not a problem. I did initial blood testing which showed I was a match. I then entered  into more rigorous testing which included additional blood work, a 24-hour urine collection and a full day orientation to meet the entire team. Trust me, as someone who lives a busy and active life, lugging around the equipment to collect urine for 24 hours was an experience!

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My donor evaluation included speaking to a social worker, a nutritionist, the surgical team, the anesthesiologist, and the surgical nurses. Every effort was made to make sure that I was not being coerced in any way, that I had a support team at home, and that I understood the risk.  I had agreed to donate before I knew that if I had a problem with my remaining kidney in the future, I would be given priority as a recipient.

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 The day of the surgery, everything went well without any complications and five hours later, I went to  the recovery room, and then to my room. Even though blood loss was minimized, I still woke up tired and pale. Much of the surgery was done laparoscopically and air was pumped into my stomach to allow the robotic machine to assist in the surgery. That air did create discomfort as air bubbles were trapped in my stomach and caused some pain. That resolved after a couple of days and I was able to go home. I was nearly fully recovered after three weeks even though I had to rest more frequently.

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It has been seven years since I donated my kidney, and my life is normal. I do have a few restrictions, I can’t take ibuprofen or nsaids of any kind or aspirin, and acetaminophen does not do much for me for pain. Sometimes I really miss those options but have found other things to relieve pain such as massage, chiropractic, and fascial release. I also can’t participate in martial arts or sports that could risk a direct blow to my remaining kidney. I still give blood and sometimes have to take iron tablets before I do to make up for the lower production of red blood cells.

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All those are small prices to pay for the choice I made and if I had to choose all over again I would do it.

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Maybe my story  has encouraged you to consider being a living donor. The odds of you being a match may be low, but you won’t know if you aren’t tested.  Trust me, the transformative effect on the recipient is powerful. If even one person reading this becomes a donor, it will be well worth it.