In 2005, writer Clyde Beal received the gift of a donated kidney from fellow churchgoer Faith Johnson. Their relationship had only been as fellow worshipers, but Faith had noticed the eventual decline that occurs in patients with end-stage renal disease and felt compelled to reach out. Since then, the two have developed a deep and lasting friendship.
This brings up an important point for anyone waiting for a kidney: the first question the transplant center will ask is, “Do you have a donor?” Most patients say no. But it’s important to consider all possible sources of donors—spouses, friends, siblings, and extended connections like co-workers and fellow church members.
I don’t mean asking people casually over a coffee break, but it’s okay to put the word out that you are actively seeking a donor. Many people will consider donation as an act of altruism—but not if they don’t know you need it.
Also, if you have a potential donor but they’re not a match for you, don’t give up. Many programs (and more are emerging) offer shared donor exchanges—like the one at UF. In these programs, someone else receives your donor’s kidney, and you receive a kidney from their donor who wasn’t a match for them.
One of our patients participated in the first six-way transplant done up north. He did great—and so did his niece, who donated her kidney as one of the three donors.
That’s the thing—it’s your kidney transplant. And like it or not, you have to do the legwork, just like the patients in these stories. The difference between an elective transplant and waiting for a deceased donor kidney is often years of dialysis.
And who doesn’t want to avoid that?
