Since 1954, when the first successful living donor transplant took place in Boston, living donors have been giving the gift of life and making a difference. This tradition has allowed thousands of people facing kidney failure to live longer, healthier lives, free from the challenging routine of dialysis.

WHAT IS LIVING KIDNEY DONATION?

Living kidney donation is when a living person donates one of their kidneys to someone whose kidneys are no longer functioning properly. 

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WHO CAN BE A LIVING DONOR?
 

Living donors should be:

• in good overall physical health and

• older than 18 years of age.

Medical conditions such as uncontrolled high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer or certain infections could prevent you from being a living donor.

GETTING STARTED ON BECOMING A LIVING DONOR 
 

1. CONTACT A TRANSPLANT HOSPITAL

If you know a person you would like to help through living directed donation, talk to him or her and contact the transplant program where the person is listed. When you contact transplant hospital staff, they will typically ask for your consent to begin a basic medical screening. With your consent, the transplant hospital staff will ask you questions about your medical history to find out if you have any conditions that would keep you from being a donor. (In our case, Robin's Hospital is ECMC TRANSPLANT CENTER IN BUFFALO, NY. Telephone Number: 716-898-5001).
 

2. HAVE AN INITIAL SCREENING

This initial screening is typically followed by a blood test to see if you are compatible with the intended transplant candidate. If you are not compatible with that person, you may have other options to donate. These options include paired exchange, blood type incompatible donation or positive crossmatch donation.
 

3. GET AN INDEPENDENT DONOR ADVOCATE

Transplant hospitals will guide you through this process and provide you with a donor advocate (IDA). 

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WHAT ARE THE TYPES OF LIVING DONOR TRANSPLANTS?
 

The kidney is the most commonly transplanted organ from a living donor.

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