The story (to the left) had also enlightened me to the kidney donation process, one that has been going on for 70 years, and perfected over time.  The surgery is mainly laproscopic now (minimally invasive) which reduces pain and speeds up recovery. What I found incredibly reassuring was that statistically there is no life expectancy change. Donors go on to live long healthy lives with one kidney, and actually usually outlive the general population because they are so healthy.  Here are some of the impactful things I learned:

• If you donate a kidney and something happens to your remaining kidney, you will be placed at the top of the list to receive a new kidney anytime in your life.  Very few donors ever need that.

• The recipient’s health insurance covers all your medical costs. Everything.  It is a win win because this actually saves dialysis patients money in the longrun, which is much more expensive over time.

• Your remaining kidney will increase in size and compensate for the loss of the other kidney.

• If you donate through the National Kidney Registry to a stranger like I did, you can list 5 friends and family as potential voucher recipients. Should one of them eventually need a kidney, whoever does first will get put at the top of the living kidney transplant list.

• Donors must pass extensive health screenings (think numerous blood tests, MRI, CT scan, EKG, Echocardiogram, you name it).  Individuals are not cleared to donate unless they have superior health and doctors believe they will live a full life with one kidney.  

• Only 3% of people who explore kidney donation ever donate.  Many don’t pass the screenings (others are unable for other reasons).  

• More than 37,000,000 Americans have chronic kidney disease and 100,000 people in the US are currently on the kidney transplant list with an urgent need for survival.  Here are “micro-pages” of hundreds who need a kidney right now.  

• Only 3 in 1,000 people die in a way that allows for deceased organ donation. 

• At ANY point in the living donor process, you can opt not to donate, no questions asked. 

• A growing group of altruistic donors are athletes who give, and in less than a year are back to running marathons and climbing high peaks.  What a great group of people!

• You can still eat the same and drink the same (even alcohol) after donation with a few notable exceptions: avoid high protein shakes and NSAIDS (drugs like Ibuprofen, Midol and Alieve).  You CAN have Tylenol. 

NEW INSPIRATION: 

In 2022 I saw a story broadcast by a nearby sister station on a young teen who needed a kidney.  I couldn't image what it would be like to have been active as a boy and then all of a sudden be bed-ridden and on dialysis. When I learned this teen and I were the same blood type, I immediately signed up to see if I could donate.  

After innumerable medical tests, and a small setback (I had donated blood too frequently and needed to restore my red blood cell levels) I was finally cleared to donate my left kidney, but I was not a match for Jamar.  However, I could still help him through a wonderful program called the National Kidney Registry. It allowed me to offer my kidney to another person and secure a "voucher" for Jarmar. 

A short time before I was set to donate, Jamar was able to get a kidney from a deceased donor.  Normally a living kidney donor is much prefered since the survival rate of the kidney lasts longer in the recipient, however, the deceased donor was of similar age and a perfect match. I was so very happy for him.  

So what next?  The answer was of course to find a new voucher recipient, of which there is no shortage.  The NKR  microsites are agonizing to look through, but speak to the need. To think, if just .03% of the American population stepped up to donate, everyone needing a kidney would get one.  

I was also motivated by the knowledge that I was not alone in this donor journey with so many who had come before, many of whom were altruistic donors like myself.  Joining this amazing community of like-minded strangers has been heartwarming.  As I explored my own donation path, I had the pleasure to connect with people like Ned Brooks who inspired so many with his TedX Talk on his journey and became a powerful spokesperson for giving. I also devoured every episode of the extremely helpful, candid and informative podcast, Donor Diaries, and got to speak personally with its amazing creator, donor and advocate Laurie Lee.  My mentor Megan (who ran a marathon 8 months after donating) offered endless support. My good friend Morgan (who donated to her husband, such love) was also always there for me.   And sweet Andrea who I got to know through a local nephrologist came to my need with a gift of therapuetic pillows (which I discuss in detail under "my recovery").  It is such a wonderful community of kindness, a window into the very best of humanity.