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Donate my kidney?

From Pagan kennedy's bucketlist

Added: June 6, 2010
Status: Not completed
Tagged: dare, donation, medical, risks
19 people are doing this
26 people voted for this

Some time ago, my boyfriend and I decided that when we hit our 10th anniversary, we would both volunteer to become kidney donors.  It seemed like the perfect gesture: both a humanitarian act and a double-dare.  We were enchanted by the idea of jumping off a medical cliff together.  And what better way to spread the love than to save two strangers from death? 

OK, so our 10th is fast-approaching -- it's about 18 months away.   We might wimp out.  We might take the leap.   Honestly, I think I'm really the one making the choice.

I would love input about this decision.   Has anyone out there donated a kidney? Do you know someone who has been through the process? 

And, also, what do you think of the idea?  Sometimes I think we're crazy to comtemplate going through through surgery and potential complications.  But most of the time, it seems like we're the sane ones and everyone else is crazy.   After all, research has shown that you can get along just fine with one kidney -- donors live just as long as non-donors.  So isn't it crazy NOT to save a life?  

Thoughts?

Comments

Scot Hacker on Jun 06, 2010

Pagan, I think this is an incredible idea. I can see why you're torn by the prospect.

Question: Would you care to *whom* the kidney wound end up going?

Scot Hacker on Jun 06, 2010

A Twitter user wanted me to pass this link on to you:

http://ask.metafilter.com/153908/Living-Kidney-Donation-Questions

It does get me wondering... what if something happens to your remaining kidney? Could you be first in line as a do-nee in the future?

Pagan kennedy on Jun 14, 2010

Thanks for the input, guys!
You inspired me to do some deep research.
- Studies have shown that people who donate one of their kidneys are EVEN MORE healthy than the general population twenty years out. Hospitals rigorously screen potential donors for problems, so the people who make it through the donation process are healthier than the average American.
-- EVEN MORE INTERESTING: Twenty years on, live donors report a much higher level of happiness compared to others their age. Why? My theory is that volunteerism in general improves mood, and the people who donated their kidneys probably continue to be involved in do-gooder activities that keep them happy.
-- These days, most of the kidney-donation surgeries are laproscopic -ie, it's a lot easier to donate than it used to be. But you still have to go through major surgery, and that's no small thing.

MY ANSWER TO SCOT'S QUESTION:
I think what you're asking here is, "What if your donated kidney went to Hitler (or his modern-day equivalent)?" It is interesting to contemplate what would happen if one of your body parts ended up in, say, Lou Dobbs's body, and then every every time he did something hateful, you'd have to think, "Goddamn, my kidney is fueling that spew of anti-immigrant demagoguery."

But short answer is, no I wouldn't care who the kidney saved, as long as it saved someone.

Scot Hacker on Jun 16, 2010

A user on Facebook asked me to share this. Let me know if I can put anyone in touch with her:

--

My 29 year old brother is looking for a donor. He has a disorder called IGA Nephropathy. It is a 'hidden' condition that doesn't show itself until your kidneys have failed completely and forever - which happened on Thanksgiving day last year The wait list in CA is around 7 years for a kidney. Dialysis is a life saver, but his quality of life is not great. Most donor recipients receive an organ from an altruistic donor. Most of those donors do not know the patient or the family. All us sibs and our parents have been disqualified from donating. We are praying for an altruistic donor to come forward and save Isaac's life.Thanks for this post. It gives me hope.

Caroline Middlebrook on Apr 13, 2011

I had this idea myself about a year ago but I changed my mind about it in terms of doing an anonymous donation. As far as I am aware, you can only do this once in your lifetime, so my reasoning is, if I was donate a kidney to a stranger and then years later find that somebody close to me needed one and I was no longer able to donate, I would be devastated.

Blair on Jul 05, 2011

Both my best friend and my uncle won't be here if they didn't have a kidney donor... I may do it myself one day. :)

Adrienne Paynter on Jul 07, 2011

The only thing I would be worried about it what if you later on get sick or hurt, and then you're in extra danger because you only have one.

Tammy on Jan 02, 2012

I admire your passion to help others. Personally, I could never do this. I am however an organ donor if I pass suddenly and any/all of my organs can be used to help/save others. Perhaps this is a more suitable option instead? Or perhaps both?

Jemma Bradaigh on May 18, 2012

Recently on UK news a healthy man in his 80's donated his kidney to save someones life. I thought it was such a wonderful inspiring story. You have got me wondering if maybe I will do this some day? To be honest I might want to wait until I am a bit older and had children etc to preserve my health as much as possible until I have done these things....then maybe I will think about it! I admire you and your boyfriend, what a wonderful thing to do! :)

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