Only about 300 to 400 people a year give a kidney to someone they never met. It's an act of generosity so unusual, a neuroscientist studies the people who do this.
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The doctors do such a complete work up on you. They care as much about your health than the kidney transplant recipient's health.
I'd advise to check out the National Kidney Registry website.
I donated a kidney to a stranger in 2022. Ran my first 5k six months later. I was inspired by friends who were donors. It doesn’t feel heroic. It feels like helping to create a world where everybody gets a second chance.
The testing was a couple of days. They test everything, like blood pressure, kidney function, and more. They have to make sure no harm comes to the donor, so they make sure we're in good health. 😀
Not painful at all. They take it out where women would have a C section. Only limitation is that you can't lift heavy stuff for 90 days, or you could get a hernia. Scroll to the bottom and read the Aechives. I documented the testing and surgery: https://socialmediastolemykidney.com/2012/08/
So it turns out this isn’t how it works- if your one kidney is failing they BOTH fail at the same time. So there’s no real risk of regretting you donated one from that standpoint
My Mom happens to be an exception to this rule, most of the time kidney disease will cause both kidney's fail. That being said, if you choose to donate, the health check-up is quite thorough. The doctors take into consoderation the donors long term health with regards to living with one kidney.
Funny, cause my fiancée (Has Stage 5 CKD) was told that even If a family member donated a Kidney, there wasn't a 100% chance that it'd go to her anyway, even if they matched, because of how Insurance and the need for someone worse off (or rich enough I guess). So a lack of Kidneys is more like it.
That is not just not so. Direct donations are just that. If you match, it would only go to your fiance. If there is no match, ONLY the donor decides if they want to explore other options of donation like paired donations. Get accurate info. https://www.kidney.org/kidney-topics/becoming-living-donor
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I'd advise to check out the National Kidney Registry website.
https://www.kidney.org/kidney-topics/pregnancy-and-kidney-disease
https://www.kidney.org/kidney-topics/living-one-kidney
Good to know.
https://www.kidney.org/kidney-topics/becoming-living-donor#:~:text=Directed%20Donation%20is%20when%20the,parents%2C%20siblings%2C%20or%20children.
https://www.kidney.org/kidney-topics/becoming-living-donor