Key Factors to Weigh Before Donating Your Kidney

Can Anyone Donate Their Kidney?

To become a kidney donor, you must be healthy as examined and determined by your doctor, be 18 years of age or older, and have two healthy kidneys. If you qualify based on the physical requirements, the next process may involve speaking with the donor evaluation team. The team consists of social workers, dieticians, surgeons, coordinators, and advocates.

• Social workers will evaluate your mental, emotional, and financial health. They may also check to see if you have community support from friends and family before and after the surgery to help with the difficulties that comes with the process.
• Dietician will check to make sure you have a healthy eating plan and are physically active regularly for your overall well-being.
• Surgeons will be the ones who conduct your surgery after receiving approval from your doctor.
• Coordinators and advocates provide the steps needed to have a successful transplant journey and check to see if your decision to do so was voluntary.

The Need for Donors

According to Donate Life America, there are approximately 90,000 people in the United States waiting for kidney donation. Those who need a kidney are suffering from end-stage renal disease (ESRD), which is a terminal condition of kidneys that can no longer function. The kidney’s job is to filter out waste from the body, but those who have ESRD cannot filter out the waste and will need dialysis if they cannot obtain a transplant. Dialysis is a complex treatment that consists of using a machine that filters the blood for up to 5 hours, and patients must come to the hospital 3 times a week for treatment. Side effects such as muscle cramps, headaches, low blood pressure, and vomiting are common.