Living Donor Kidney Transplants

There are two types of kidney transplants. A deceased-donor transplant means the organ comes from someone who has died (this person designated their wishes to be an organ donor before death). Because most healthy people can live with just one kidney, living donors are also a possibility. A living-donor transplant means the organ is from a living relative, loved one or even someone matched up with you from a “paired kidney exchange.” Kidneys are the most common organs transplanted from a living donor. 

Benefits of a Living Donor Kidney Transplant:

• Less time on dialysis: Decreased time on dialysis, or even avoiding dialysis completely.
• Better outcomes: Kidneys from living donors are typically healthier and usually last longer than deceased donor kidneys.
• Shorter wait time: Living donor kidney transplants drastically reduce the amount of time patients may spend on the organ donor waiting list.

Who can be a living donor?

While we encourage everyone to consider being a kidney donor, guidelines for potential donors include:

• Donor age greater than 18 
• Parent, adult child, sibling or other relatives and friends
• Good overall physical and mental health
• Access to healthcare
• A support system to assist you during recovery

You usually can't be a kidney donor if you have cancer, diabetes, kidney, heart or liver disease, sickle cell disease, HIV or hepatitis.

Dedicated Living Donor Team

At Atrium Health Transplant Center, living donors are assigned a dedicated donor team. This team includes: 

• Independent Living Donor Advocate (ILDA): The ILDA is your advocate. Their role is to make sure you are fully informed about donation and are not being pressured into donation. You will talk to the ILDA about your motivation for donating, your relationship with the recipient, and will also review your donor rights, including the right to opt out at any time.
• Donor Surgeon: Explains the surgery and what to expect afterward and performs the surgery. 
• Transplant Nephrologist or Advanced Practice Provider: Completes a comprehensive medical exam and review all your medical information to assess your individual risk related to kidney donation.
• Nurse Coordinator: Collects your medical information, coordinates appointments and serves as your main point of contact.
• Social Worker: Discusses your mental health and social situation.
• Registered dietitian: Assesses whether your weight is healthy enough for surgery and assists if you need to lose weight.

This team will work to guide you through the living donation process from pre-screening through post-surgery.

How do I become a living donor?

Learn as much as you can about living donation and talk to your doctor and family before making this important decision.

If you are interested in becoming a living donor:

• Step 1: Review our living donor patient education
• Step 2: Complete your referral
  • If you are unable to complete the electronic referral, Please use this link to complete a referral form that can be emailed, faxed, or mailed to the transplant center

Do you have questions or would like more information before completing your referral? Please call our living donor team at 704-355-6649. or email the living donor team at KidneyLivingDonor@AtriumHealth.org