Living donation is when someone who is still alive donates an organ, part of an organ or tissues to someone else. Living donations involve a kidney, part of the liver or a uterus.
Living donation shortens transplant wait times and leads to better outcomes for the recipient when compared with organs from deceased donors. The surgery can also be planned for a time that is best for both the donor and recipient.
To be considered for living organ donation, a person must be at least 18 years old and in good overall health. The process involves thorough physical and mental health evaluations to ensure the donor’s organs or tissues would benefit someone in need and that their decision is well-informed and voluntary.
Living organ donation typically happens in one of these ways.
For donors, the primary benefit of living donation is the potential to save or dramatically improve a recipient's health and quality of life.
For recipients, advantages include:
Still, as with any surgery, donating an organ comes with risks. These are major surgical procedures that could cause pain, infection, blood loss, blood clots or damage to surrounding tissues or other organs. People may develop reactions to anesthesia.
Long-term risks, although uncommon, vary by organ type but can include reduced kidney function and high blood pressure (for kidney donors) or intestinal problems and hernias (for liver donors). Donors may also have psychological side effects, ranging from regret or anger if the donated organ fails in the recipient or problems with body image related to scarring.
Transplant hospitals are required to assign donors an independent donor advocate, whose role is to guide donors through evaluation, surgery and recovery. These advocates can offer social and emotional support.
Hospitals also provide financial coordinators and social workers to discuss financial concerns and available resources.
Living donors also receive follow-up medical care and tests so doctors can monitor their recovery. The transplant team will help arrange those visits based on the type of transplant.
It may not be easy to discuss an organ transplant with friends or family. Whether you’re in need of a transplant, looking to donate or wanting to support a loved one, you can use these tips to communicate clearly and compassionately.
Yuki Tsutsumi provided a lifesaving liver transplant to his friend, Stephen Mensch, who was dealing with primary sclerosing cholangitis. The fact that these two best friends would be a compatible match was more than a coincidence—it was “meant to be.”
A stranger’s decision to donate part of their liver saved nurse practitioner, and mom, Katie Blalock. This story of living donation could have ended very differently, but thanks to this person’s generosity, Katie has a second chance at life with her husband and two children.
Facing impending dialysis due to kidney disease, Kenny DeCay found an unexpected perfect donor match in his sister-in-law, Ja’Niece. Kenny's new kidney began working immediately, allowing him to regain his life.
Understand how transplant teams match organs and ensure blood and tissue compatibility between donors and recipients.
Feel prepared for your donation or your transplant surgery by learning what to expect from initial planning through recovery and follow-up.
Learn about this comfortable home-away-from-home that provides an affordable place to stay for transplant families in need.
