“You’re donating your kidney to a stranger? Why?” was the most common response I received when I told friends and family that I had decided to become an altruistic kidney donor.
The truth is that without organ donation I likely would have lost my brother after he was diagnosed with a rare liver condition in 2012. He has since received 2 liver transplants and I’m elated that he is finally able to live a healthy, active and fulfilled life.
His journey was my original impetus for donation, which continued to evolve as I began researching the statistics:
• Currently, the kidney transplant waiting list exceeds 100,000 people.
• 14 new patients are added to the kidney waiting list every day – exceeding 3,000 each month.
• Every day, 13 people die while waiting for a kidney transplant.
Bottom line: it’s horrible to need a kidney. Because donors are faced with little to no risk post-op, there was no question in considering the right choice.
After months of preliminary testing and evaluation, on 6/24/2020 a surgical team at the University of Colorado hospital in Denver removed my left kidney. My kidney was then flown to Cleveland, Ohio, and transplanted into a male recipient I’d never met and whose name I didn’t know. As a non-directed “bridge-donor” my donation initiated a chain of kidney transplants for incompatible donor/recipient pairs and resulted in three successful transplants.
While I experienced a few days of intense pain and discomfort, I am gratified to know that the recipient and other recipients/donors within the chain will be afforded another 10-15 years of life without having to experience the harrowing and debilitating treatment of dialysis.
We can do more than we think we can.
Hello. I am currently getting screened to be a non-directed kidney donor. My wife donated to her aunt and I’ve been so inspired ever since. I am AB+ so my kidney would never be able to go to a family member. Anyways, I’m wondering how long it took you to be able to resume normal exercise and lift normal amounts of weight? I am a firefighter so I’ll need to be able to perform several strenuous physical activities before being cleared to return to work. Thanks for being a donor!
Hi Henry, How great about your wife being a match for her aunt, and inspiring you to be tested to be a non-directed kidney donor! I’m also a kidney donor, and I don’t think I was allowed to lift more than 10 pounds for about 6 weeks to avoid a hernia. Tightening your stomach muscles will hurt for awhile since it’s an abdominal surgery. At about 7 weeks, I was totally back to normal. Other donors can weigh in too, though – every body is different! Thank you for being a firefighter – you are a HERO! All the best, Jen