Frequently Asked Questions About Becoming a Living Kidney Donor

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WHO CAN DONATE A KIDNEY?

Healthy people between the ages of 18 and 65 can donate living organs. There are three different ways to donate:

1. Direct Donation – You can donate a kidney directly to me if you are a compatible match. Ideal compatible matches are generally the same size and blood type. My blood type is A+ which means my blood is compatible with Type A and O. I am approx. 6ft tall and 180lbs. Direct Donation is my absolute best chance for long-term survival. Direct Donated kidneys currently can last up to 30years in the recipient. Please note that I don’t determine who is compatible and who is not, my doctors will determine this through testing of the potential donors.
2. Paired Exchange Donation – You can donate a kidney to a group or “pool”. Someone in the group will get your kidney in exchange, I will get a kidney from someone else in the group. Paired Exchange is a great way for potential donors to donate a kidney that might not be directly compatible with me. 
3. Deceased Donation – People that have passed away have the option to donate their organs. In the United States, there is a national network called United Network of Organ Sharing (UNOS) that manages the nation's deceased organ transplant system. The current wait for a deceased kidney is 6 years. There is a tremendous shortage of deceased kidneys in the world. Deceased transplanted kidneys only last for 5-10yrs. I would need multiple deceased organ transplants in my lifetime.
   

HOW DO I LEARN MORE ABOUT LIVING KIDNEY DONATION? 

1. Go to Alan’s transplant center website - www.uchealth.org/services/transplant-services/living-donation/kidney/
2. Click on the Links tab for more informational sites.
   

HOW DO I DONATE A KIDNEY?

CALL  MY TRANSPLANT CENTER AT UCHEALTH DENVER TO BEGIN THE KIDNEY DONOR TESTING PROCESS!!  
1 (720) 848 0855 Let them know that you want to donate your kidney to Alan Leslie or to be a potential donor.

HOW DOES DONATING A KIDNEY AFFECT THE DONOR?

Studies have shown that generally healthy people can live a normal life with one kidney. The surgery is typically minimally invasive (Laparoscopic). Donors are typically in the hospital for 2-5 days and off work for 14-21 days. Donors can expect that their body will need to adjust to having one kidney. This may be uncomfortable for several days. This will determine the initial hospital stay. Once the body has healed over several weeks, then the donor can lead a normal life. There will be some follow-up medical visits to confirm the donor’s health. Please click on the Links tab for more informative websites.