BROADCAST: MARK J. ROSE

 Did You Miss The Broadcast With MARK J. ROSE, Kidney Patient, HBP Kidney Failure Patient,  Seeking A Kidney Transplant, GOFUNDME for Transplant Meds? Catch The Instant Replay Here! PLEASE LIKE & SHARE!

https://www.youtube.com/live/-c68CS7cJok?si=If7VOk8IEzNFgXdP

BLOG: WHY IS DONATING A KIDNEY SO HARD?

 

BLOG: WHY IS DONATING A KIDNEY SO HARD


INTRODUCTION

I recently started a group on Facebook called, " Why Is It So Hard To Donate A Kidney?"
https://www.facebook.com/share/g/B5gqoPe8EsqoeJtd/?mibextid=A7sQZp

I was inspired to start the group because s number of my friends have begun or completed the process of donating a kidney and have complained about the difficulty in doing so either in terms of rejection or the slow response of the transplant center staff to answer questions or to disclose test results.

As a result of these statements about difficulties in donating, I began to investigate and do a little research. As a Kidney Transplant Recipient, I have always thought donors were given more of a sympathetic path. I was wrong!

A REVIEW OF THE PROCESS: WHAT IS LIVING DONATION?

Living donation refers to a kidney transplant where a living person donates one of his/her good kidneys to someone else.  

There are 2 types of living kidney donation:

A. Direct Donation: where the living kidney donor chooses a specific person with kidney disease that they want to donate to. Examples include a family member, co-worker, friend or a specific person in need of a kidney transplant.

B. Non-Directed Donation: Here the living donor does not have a specific Recipient in mind, but donates the kidney to a complete stranger. An example of this is a Paired Donation Program, where the Potential Recipient trades his non-matching donor to a recipient that the donor matches and in return, gets a donor from the second recipient that matches the original donor but doesn't match recipient # 2, or the charitable donation by the original non-matching donor moves the original recipient to the top of the kidney transplant list and the next donor who matches becomes his/her donor.

WHO CAN DONATE A KIDNEY: WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS TO DONATE?

Every state and Kidney Transplant Center may have different requirements, but in general, to be a Living Kidney Donor one must:

A. Be 18 years of age or older;

B. Have 2 healthy, working kidneys;

C. Be healthy enough to donate.

AM I HEALTHY ENOUGH TO DONATE: CAN I MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF A FULL AND COMPLETE HEALTH EVALUATION FROM THE TRANSPLANT CENTER?

Medical Conditions can be a cause for disqualifcation as a Potential Donor. You must be healthy enough to donate a kidney or certain medical conditions may disqualify you.

All Kidney Transplant Centers in the United States will require the potential Living Kidney Donor to undergo a full health evaluation before they will be permitted to donate a kidney. This evaluation will help the Donor Transplant Team decide if the potential donor us ready, mentally and physically to donate a kidney & if they are healthy enough to do so 

This is where many Potential Kidney Donors get disqualified, discouraged or tripped up in the process. The Potential Donor will undergo many tests, exams and interviews to make this determination, according to the American Kidney Fund including:

"Blood tests, such as to learn your blood and tissue types;

Urine tests;

Heart and lung tests;

Blood pressure check;

A spiral CT (computed tomography) scan or other imaging of your kidneys;

Colonoscopy to test for colon cancer if you are older than 50;

Prostate exam if you are a man;

Mammogram (test for breast cancer) and Pap smear (test for cervical cancer) if you are a woman;.

You can get all of these tests at a time that fits your schedule, without having to stay overnight in a hospital. 

You will also talk with a social worker. They will ask questions to make sure that you are mentally and emotionally ready to donate a kidney and that you have a support system to help you after the donation surgery.

If the donor evaluation team decides that you are healthy and you are a good match for the person getting your kidney, you may be approved to donate your kidney."

Throughout this entire process, the Potential Donor is continually asked questions to the effect, "are you sure you want to do this?"

WHO MAKES UP THE DONOR EVALUATION TEAM?

The donor evaluation team usually includes these team members:

Social workers who review your social support system and finances and help you with any challenges, such as emotions, physical side effects or finances:

Dietitians who review your eating habits and activity level and can help create a plan to make healthy choices before and after donation surgery;

Transplant surgeons who do the donation surgery;

Doctors who have special training in a certain area of medicine such as the heart, kidney or liver. They help make sure you are healthy enough for surgery;

Living donor coordinators who help organize your evaluation, prepare you for surgery and help coordinate follow-up care after surgery;

A living donor advocate who will make sure your rights are protected and that your choice to donate is voluntary.

WHAT TYPES OF THINGS MIGHT DISQUALIFY SOMEONE AUTOMATICALLY FROM DONATING A KIDNEY?

A. Age: age is sometimes given as a reason to disqualify. Depending on your transplant center, the minimum age to be a kidney donor is 18-25 depending on your transplant center. There is no official maximum age limit, however; certain centers have their own set limits and it tends to be more difficult for an older person to qualify to donate. According to the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network, (OPTN) only 2.4 %, of living kidney donors in the US have been over 65 & only 23% have been between the ages of 50 & 64.  

With the invention of new technology, recently this number has been increasing. In 2023, 6.4% of donors have been over 65 and 31.9% have been between 50-64. The NKR has helped people to donate in their late 70's and one man was 84.

B. Weigh/BMI : Weight or Body Mass Index is another potential disqualifer. A BMI of 30-35 falls into the group of persons felt to be obese, making surgery more risky and raising the possibility of developing diabetes or other complications. If the BMI is over 35, those potential donors are usually rejected. From 30-35, they are asked to lose weight. Communication after weight loss may be an issue. Some centers may wait a while to see if the weight stays off.

C. Disease or Medical Condition: Kidney Donors must be healthy to donate.They may be disqualified if they have a serious health condition. 

There are some health conditions that may prevent you from donating a kidney, including:

Heart, lung or blood vessel diseases;

Uncontrolled High blood pressure, in most cases;

Kidney disease;

Diabetes;

Cancer, except for certain skin cancers;

Hepatitis;

Acute or recurring infections

Serious mental health conditions; A psychological examination will be conducted to determine if you are completely voluntarily and free of pressure or guilt in your decision to donate a kidney.

Certain infections, such as HIV;

Drug or alcohol use disorder;

Being very overweight (obese);

Drinking alcohol to excess;

The NKR recommends that you do not disqualify yourself if you have one of these conditions, but you should allow the transplant center to do that. Medical science, guidelines and criteria are constantly changing , and they may have an answer for you. An example of such a change is with HIV. Prior to 2019, this was an automatic disqualifyer, now HIV to HIV Transplants are more common in the US. 

D. Mental Health Issues: You may also be disqualified if you have serious mental health issues, are misusing drugs or alcohol, have dimensia or are mentally compromised in a way that would make a kidney transplant difficult. 

Most mental health issues are not alone a disqualifyer and the transplant team may have individual recommendations to help.

E. Coercion:. Donations must always be voluntary. If they feel there is pressure being placed on the donor or compensation is involved ( not reimbursement from legitimate sources) you might be disqualified.

F. Options for Disqualified Donors: Many conditions can be managed or improved, your transplant center can help make recommendations. You can seek a 2d opinion.


G. NKR DONOR SHEILD: Through the National Kidney Registry's Donor SHEILD Protections, some of these issues can be addressed if you qualify. Donor Sheild Protections include:

I. Lost wage reimbursement up to $2,000/wk for up to 6 weeks;

Ii. Travel and Dependant Care: Up to $6,000 for Travel and Dependant Care Costs;

III. Kidney Prioritization: In the event the donor ever needs a Kidney, all living kidney donors in the US are automatically prioritized for a deceased donor transplant if they ever need a transplant. Kidney prioritization includes living kidney donor transplants and transplants through NKR's Voucher Program, and Kidneys for Life Program, which ensures better matches & less graft failures.

IV. Voucher Donation: This is a type of living donor assistance that allows a donor to donate to help someone with a kidney transplant in the future. There are 2 types of vouchers, a standard voucher & a family voucher. 

a. Standard voucher: you can donate according to your schedule while providing a voucher to someone in need. When the voucher holder is ready, they can activate the voucher, and be prioritized for a kidney transplant.

b. Family voucher: The donor can donate according to his schedule while providing up to 5 family members with vouchers who are not in immediate need of a transplant.  

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS AND RISKS OF DONATING A KIDNEY!

WHAT ARE THE POSSIBLE BENEFITS OF DONATING A KIDNEY!

Some of the possible benefits of donating a kidney are to:

Help the recipient (the person who gets your kidney) live a longer, healthier life;

Save the life of another person;.

Better understand your own health and health problems through the in-depth evaluation;

WHAT ARE THE POSSIBLE RISKS OF DONATING A KIDNEY?

When donating a kidney, there are possible physical, emotional and financial risks. The donor evaluation team will review the possible risks with you. They will not let you donate if you have a high risk.

PHYSICAL RISKS:

Kidneys Donation involves major surgery which has risks like bleeding, infection, blood clots, and nerve damage.

There are risks to any surgery. Possible risks from surgery include:

Pain at the surgery site;

Bloating;

Feeling weak and tired ;

Bleeding and blood clots;

Problems from being put to sleep, such as pneumonia (lung infection);

Blocked bowel (being unable to pass stool, or poop);

Infection;

A scar from the surgery;

Feeling sick to your stomach;

Possible Death: Recently researchers at NYU Langone Health found the risk of death from donating a kidney had gone down to less than 1 death in every 10,000 kidney donations from a 3 per 10, O00 cases risk. Although it is lower, the researchers caution that risk still exists.

EMOTIONAL RISKS

After surgery, some people who donate a kidney may have:

Anxiety or feel guilty if the kidney they donated isn't working well;

Stress;

Depression;

Fear;

Talk with your donor evaluation team during evaluation and after donation for help coping with your feelings.

FINANCIAL RISKS

Medicare, Medicaid or the kidney recipient's insurance will cover the medical costs of donating a kidney. But most insurance companies do not cover:

Time off from work;

Childcare: If you have young children, or other b dependants, you'll need to consider who will care for them during the evaluation, surgery and recovery.

Travel, parking and gas during the donation process;

Hotel costs during the donation process;

Meals;

There may be programs to help with the costs that insurance will not cover. Talk with your donor evaluation team to learn more.

A possible solution is the Donor Sheild Protection from the National Kidney Registry...

Donation can sometimes change your ability to get or afford health, disability or life insurance. Learn more about disability insurance and government help to pay for the donation process.

Employment issues may crop up if your employer is not supportive of your Kidney Donation.

You may also have issues getting work in military service, law enforcement, aviation and fire departments because they may not accept people with only one kidney.

One possible future solution is the Living Donor Protection Act. The act if passed would:

Prohibit discrimination against living donors in insurance, employment, and other areas of life 
Ensure that living donors have Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) protections to take time off work to donate and recover 

Require the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to update materials on living organ donation to educate the public 
Help change how chronic kidney disease (CKD) is identified and treated 

The LDPA would: 
Prevent insurance companies from denying, limiting, or charging higher premiums for life, disability, or long-term care insurance to living donors 

Codify the Department of Labor's (DOL) opinion that organ donation is protected under FMLA 
Direct the HHS to update materials on living organ donation to reflect new protections 
This enables a living donor to take time off if work and recover from kidney donation under the directive from the department of labor, to prevent firing, demotion or wage loss as a result of donating a kidney. The DOL has said that the Family Medical Leave Act applies, which allows eligible employees to take up to 12 work weeks of unpaid leave during any 12 month period to care for a seriously I'll family member.

The bill would also require that within six months after enactment, the Secretary of Health and Human Services review and update materials related to living organ donation in order to educate the public on the benefits and risks of living organ donation and the impact of living organ donation on the access of a living organ donor to insurance.

MATCHING THE RECIPIENT

One of the major qualifications requirements is that you must undergo a medical exam to ensure that you are a match for the recipient. This includes blood and tissue typing & a crossmatch test to see if your blood cells are compatible with the recipient. This may include a newer test for epilet matching. If you are incompatible, you may not be able to donate to that person. One solution here is to consider entering a Paired Donation Transplant Program.

POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS OR HEALTH PROBLEMS AFTER DONATING A KIDNEY

After I donate a kidney, will I have any side effects or health problems?

After you recover from the donation surgery, you should feel and be well. You can live with just one healthy kidney. Your remaining kidney will be able to do most of the work of both of your kidneys. 

It is rare to have long-term physical problems from donating a kidney. But people with one kidney may have a higher chance of high blood pressure, which doctors may treat with medicine.

POSSIBLE COMPLICATIONS FROM THE KIDNEY SURGERY ITSELF

What is kidney donation surgery like?

Most kidney transplant surgeries are done laparoscopically. A laparoscopic surgery is a type of surgery that uses very small cuts on the body and a laparoscope, which is a thin, lighted tube used to see inside the body. In kidney donor surgery, the surgeon makes small cuts (only a few inches long) on the donor's stomach and removes the kidney. 

The surgery takes two to three hours and the donor usually recovers in the hospital for one to three days.

After Kidney Donation, it's important for the Kidney Donor to have regular health checkups, including kidney function tests and blood pressure checks. 

The Mayo Clinic points out that there may be long- risks from Kidney Donation. Although there are few long-term risks for healthy donors, risks still exist. 

Those long-term risks include:

A. The possibility that the Kidney Donor may slightly increase his risk of kidney failure for himself. This is especially true for Black men. There's less than a 1% chance of future kidney failure after donating, but the risk is still there.

B. Growth of the Donor's remaining kidney; it gets a little bigger because it takes on extra blood and has to work a little harder to filter waste.

C. The normal risks from any major surgery.

SELF- EVALUATION: QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF BEFORE DONATING A KIDNEY

You may find it helpful to ask yourself these questions before you decide:

Why do I want to donate my kidney to someone else?

What other questions do I have about the donation process or the risks and benefits?

Am I ready to deal with any physical, emotional and financial problems during and after donation?

What will happen if I have unexpected problems after surgery?

Who can I rely on for support during surgery and recovery?

How will I feel if my donated kidney does not work? Will it affect my relationship with the person who got my kidney?

Will I be changing my job in the near future? If so, how would donation affect my ability to get a job or life insurance?

Your transplant center has a social worker who can help you make your decision. You may also want to talk about living kidney donation with people you trust, such as family and friends. 

You can stop the donation process at any time and for any reason.


CONCLUSIONS:

From the Cleveland Clinic :

"Deciding to donate a kidney is a big decision, and the process of becoming a donor can take time. You must go through extensive tests to make sure the donation won’t compromise your health. And you must be fully aware of the risks and complications that may arise after donating a kidney. Still, many people willingly and proudly go through the process to save a loved one’s life and celebrate their new, healthy chapter.

Talk to a healthcare provider if you have any questions. They can help you decide if you’re a good candidate to donate a kidney and discuss your risks."


REFERENCES:

What To Consider Before Donating a Kidney
https://www.kidneyfund.org/kidney-donation-and-transplant/organ-and-tissue-donation/what-consider-donating-kidney#what-is-living-donation

https://weillcornell.org/services/kidney-and-pancreas-transplantation/living-donor-kidney-center/about-the-program/risks-and-benefits-of-living-donation

https://www.ajkd.org/article/S0272-6386(22)00723-5/fulltext

https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/nephrectomy/expert-answers/kidney-donation/faq-20057997#:~:text=Kidney%20donation%20involves%20major%20surgery,2%20nights%20in%20the%20hospital

https://www.kidney.org/transplantation/what-to-expect-after-donation#:~:text=What%20are%20the%20long%2Dterm,Reduced%20kidney%20function

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/procedures/7457-kidney-donation

https://optn.transplant.hrsa.gov/patients/by-organ/kidney/questions-and-answers-for-transplant-candidates-about-the-kidney-allocation-system/#:~:text=It%20is%20hard%20to%20find,system%20that%20rejects%20most%20kidneys.

https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/nephrectomy/expert-answers/kidney-donation/faq-20057997

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/procedures/7457-kidney-donation

https://www.kidneyregistry.com/for-donors/kidney-donation-blog/is-life-harder-after-donating-a-kidney/

https://www.kidney.org/transplantation/what-to-expect-after-donation

https://www.nhsbt.nhs.uk/organ-transplantation/kidney/receiving-a-kidney/living-donor-kidney-transplant/

https://www.pennmedicine.org/for-patients-and-visitors/find-a-program-or-service/transplant-institute/living-donor-kidney-transplant/living-with-one-kidney

https://www.kidney.org/news-stories/kidney-donation-safe

https://www.kidney.org/kidney-topics/long-term-risks-living-donation#:~:text=Sign%20Up%20Today-,New%20Health%20Issues,can%20get%20pregnant%20after%20donation.

https://www.kidney.org/transplantation/what-to-expect-after-donation

https://www.kidney.org/kidney-topics/becoming-living-donor#:~:text=Living%20kidney%20donation%20is%20when,surgery%2C%20and%20help%20you%20recover.

https://www.kidneyfund.org/kidney-donation-and-transplant

https://www.nhsbt.nhs.uk/organ-transplantation/kidney/receiving-a-kidney/living-donor-kidney-transplant/#:~:text=20%2D25%20years-,Receiving%20a%20kidney%20from%20a%20living%20donor,can%20be%20a%20living%20donor?

https://www.kidneyregistry.com/for-donors/am-i-qualified-to-donate-a-kidney/

BROADCAST WITH JESSICA BAL

Did You Miss The Broadcast With JESSICA BAL, Kidney Patient, Toxic Medication Victim, Blogger, Seeking A Kidney Transplant, Needs A Living Donor? Catch The Instant Replay Here! PLEASE LIKE & SHARE!
https://www.youtube.com/live/kzJMhIbHTUs?si=I-Em0rAK6p0mHDp_

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Did You Miss The Broadcast With HADASSAH (HADDIE) RAMIEKA MCDONALD, Wife, Mother, 11 Years Dialysis Patient, 18 yr FSGS Patient, Seeking A Kidney Transplant, & Kidney Advocate. Catch The Instant Replay Here & Share the Broadcast!?

https://www.youtube.com/live/Sqbb5fRE-vI?si=Cs8tMWGDNfA3xo7o

BROADCAST: WHY IS KIDNEY DONATION SO HARD?

 Did You Miss The Broadcast With James  Myers.Where  UNCLE JIM Talks To  Us About  Why Kidney Donation Is So Hard? Catch The Instant Replay Here!

https://www.youtube.com/live/mBTdKmajJvE?si=iupsyaXslJwXFnWC

BROADCAST WITH VAUGHN REYNOLDS

 Did You Miss The Broadcast With FRED HILL, DINYL founder, "Reset" coach and author of "Dialysis Is Not Your Life," PKD Patient, Motivation With Fred Broadcaster, 9 yr Kidney Transplant Recipient. Catch The Instant Replay Here!

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https://www.youtube.com/live/R2hv8Nn3ebE?si=rn7C_YAo_QfcpwGb

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Did You Miss The Broadcast With FRED HILL, DINYL founder, "Reset" coach and author of "Dialysis Is Not Your Life," PKD Patient, Motivation With Fred Broadcaster,  Certified Dialysis Technician,  Former Dialysis Patient, 9 yr Kidney Transplant Recipient. Catch The Instant Replay Here!
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BROADCAST WITH NANCY MARLIN

 Did You Miss The Broadcast With NANCY MARLIN, PKD Patient, How To Find A Living Donor Expert & Speaker, Preemptive Kidney Transplant Recipient, & Active Kidney Advocate! Catch  The Instant Replay Here!

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Did You Miss The Broadcast With PESH PATEL, Kidney Patient, Kidney Transplant Recipient, Currently Seeking A 2d Kidney Transplant, Founder of A Kidney Life, Talk Kidney To Me Podcaster, Kidney Advocate. Catch The Instant Replay Here!
https://www.youtube.com/live/3iaOQ4HUmtU?si=fZ-0ZQblgFJYq2b8

NEW FB GROUP; WHY IS IT SO HARD TO DONATE A KIDNEY?

 I just created this new group, Why Is It So Hard To Donate A Kidney? Please Consider Joining The Group

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1960885947740069/?ref=share_group_link

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Did You Miss The Broadcast With Carol Offen & Betsy Crais, organ donors & organ donation advocates, to discuss their book,  The Insider's Guide to Living Kidney Donation: Everything You Need to Know If You Give (or Get) the Greatest Gift? Catch The Instant Replay Here!

https://www.youtube.com/live/ROxiF65eMKA?si=x354nO19GgjoQWbR  

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https://www.youtube.com/live/qo665oOUCxQ?si=nvBgj8gh95fjIAv6

https://www.youtube.com/live/qo665oOUCxQ?si=nvBgj8gh95fjIAv6

 

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 Did You Miss The Broadcast With JULLIE HOGGAN, PKD Patient, Experienced Kidney Advocate, Preemptive Kidney Transplant Patient and Co-Founder & Lead Navigator for Square Knot Health, a telehealth company that helps patients overcome barriers to transplant or kidney

donation! Catch The Instant Replay Here!

Please Share!
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 Did You Miss The  Broadcast With LaVarne Burton, President and Chief Executive Officer of the American Kidney Fund (AKF)? Catch The Instant Replay Here!

https://www.youtube.com/live/bX3yt50TcXw?si=-dmzCDvAklVOecuA

ENCOURAGING DONOR SAFETY

 Encouraging Kidney Donation Broadcast: Donating A Kidney is Safer Than Ever 

 

1. Introduction

 We all know that Living Kidney Donors can easily get by with just one functioning kidney, but did you know now there is less than a  1% chance that a Living Donor will die as a result of complications from donating a Kidney for a Kidney Transplant Surgery?

According to a new study from the Journal of American Medical Association, entitled"Thirty-Year Trends in Perioperative Mortality Risk for Living Kidney Donors, " there's reason for anyone involved in a Kidney Transplant situation to be encouraged today! The risks to potential Living Kidney Donors of Death over the last 30 years have been significantly reduced! In fact, the risk of death from donating a kidney is at an all time low!

The study was led by Allan B. Massie, PhD, Department of Surgery, NYU Langone Health, New York City. It was published online on August 28, 2024, in JAMA.

2.  The Study Shows That The Risk of Death For People Who Donate A Kidney Has Dropped By More Than Half 

From 2013 to 2023, the 90 day mortality rate for US Kidney Donors was at 0.9% per 10, 000 Kidney Transplant Surgeries. As we will see, there has never been a safer time in history to give a Kidney. The risk of people who donated a kidney has dropped by more than half according to JAMA's new study! Advances in surgery and medical care, along with careful donor selection have greatly improved the odds.

The Key message here is that  people who volunteer to donate a kidney face even a lower risk of death from the Transplant Operation.

3. The Study Encourages More Donors To Donate.

Each year approximately 6000 Americans voluntarily donate a Kidney according to the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network.

Based on the data from 1995 through 2009, experts have seen that about 3 out of every 10, 000 Donors were likely to die within 3 months of the Kidney Transplant.

Looking at 30 years worth of the medical records from almost 164, 600 Kidney Donors from across the country, researchers at NYU Langone Health Found that by 2022, less than 1 Death occurred for every 10,000 Kidney Donations or 36 Deaths in 30 years! In other words, it is safer to donate a kidney now than at any other time in history!

The study showed that reviewing 30 years of living kidney donation fewer than 1 of every 10, 000 donors died within 3 months of the surgery. Centers are currently advising potential donors that there are 3 deaths in every  10,000 Living Donor Transplants, and this study has made that obsolete. Now when counseling donors, they can be told in the last decade, it has become a lot safer operation for Kidney Donors!

This becomes particularly significant when you consider there are nearly 90,000 people on the waitlist for a Kidney Transplant, the average wait us about 3-5 years, 17 people die every day on the waitlist, every 8 minutes, someone is added to the list, and we only convert around 27,000 actual Kidney Transplants every year. This new study gives us hope that someday soon, everyone who wants or needs a Kidney Transplant, can have one. 

4. Why Is It Safer: The Risk Is Lower Due to Laparoscopic Procedures and Other Recent Improvements 

The authors of the study suggested that improved surgical techniques, more careful donor selection and better postoperative care are the reasons for such a marked improvement. This means the old estimate of 3 in 10, 000 donor deaths within 3 months needs to be updated! 

In previous decades, male donors and those with a history of high blood pressure were more likely to die within 90 days of the surgery and most of them passed within the first 7 days after surgery.  most often from excessive bleeding or hemorrhage. The Study validates that it is a very safe surgery with a very small risk.  

Hopefully, this will encourage more potential Living Kidney Donors to donate a Kidney to a needy Kidney Transplant Patient! The study demonstrates that Kidney Transplant Surgery is meeting the critical need to be as safe as possible for the charitable donor, who is required to be healthy enough to donor, without prior medical problems. Fortunately, the long-term medical data shows that Kidney Donors' Kidney Function tends to remain stable and the risk of developing chronic kidney disease is only slightly higher than those who do not donate.(NBC NEWS ARTICLE in blue print. Risk of End Stage Renal Disease Following Live Kidney Donation )

"While we had always understood that kidney donation is safe, our findings suggest that mortality among donors is extremely rare, and the procedure is safer than ever before,” said study lead author Allan B. Massie, PhD. Dr. Massie is a director of the Center for Surgical and Transplant Applied Research (C-STAR) Quantitative Core at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, where he is also a faculty member in the Departments of Surgery and Population Health.

Dr. Massie points out that laparoscopic surgery has drastically changed Kidney Transplants since the 1990's. Now instead of a large, gaping opening like the old  donor nephrectomy (kidney removal) with a 6" to 9" incision, the current laparoscopic nephrectomy removes the donor kidney through a much smaller backed up by the insertion of a surgical camera inserted via a thin tube for better vision.  

This new report from the Journal of The American Medical Association (JAMA) is the first since 2009 to look at the risk of death in kidney donors. During this updated time period, laparoscopic nephrectomies have become the standard practice in Kidney Transplants. 

Doctors are also taking better care of patients both before the operation and afterwards, following up with patients and checking their labs post-surgery. 

5. What Types of Potential Donors Could Face Rejection ?

The results of the study further indicate that potential donors who may be frequently rejected in the future may be with a history of high blood pressure, and some high risk males. Factors like age, race and ethnicity were found not to have any effect on mortality! The risk was greater for men and those with preexisting hypertension. 

6. How Was The Study Conducted?

The Study Team analized information from the Scientific Registry of Transplants Recipients and their database of Transplantation Centers  throughout the United States as overseen by the US Department of Health and Human Services. The Death Records were provided by the Organ Procurement and Transplant Network, a non-profit organization that is the only transportation network authorized by Congress to oversee national Kidney Transplants. 

The researchers calculated the mortality rates that occurred within 90 days of Kidney Donation between 1993-2002, & 2003 -2012 & 2013-2022. Then they compared deaths across these periods of time with demographics and health factors, including sex, body mass, (obesity)  & whether the donors had a laparoscopic surgery. 

The findings indicate the about  half the donor deaths occur within the first week of Donation, mostly because of blood loss. They found 13 deaths occurred before 2013, 18 happened between 2003-2012. Since 2013, only 5 donors died within 90 days of the surgery. 

7. Results

With only 1 donor death occurring in every 10, 000 Kidney Donations or 36 deaths in over 30 years and only 5 donors dying within 90 days of the transplant procedures, it us clear that the advice given before transplant needs to be updated to include the new statistical findings. This is a significant statistical drop of adults who died within 90 days of donating a Kidney!

8. Conclusions 

"While we had always understood that kidney donation is safe, our findings suggest that mortality among donors is extremely rare, and the procedure is safer than ever before,” said lead researcher Allan Massie, director of the NYU Grossman School of Medicine’s Center for Surgical and Transplant Applied Research Quantitative Core.

The risk to Kidney Donors is at an all time low, and Donors should be more encouraged to donate then ever. The risk of Kidney Donation is safer than it has ever been. This should encourage more Kidney Donations and lower the number of people waiting on the list. It should encourage more Living Donations and Pre-Emptive Kidney Transplants, all of which should encourage Kidney Patients!

Being able to reassure Donors that Living Kidney Donation is safe and getting safer is paramount because in the past, some potential recipients have been reluctant to accept a living kidney donation because of the potential risk to the donor. The findings of this study are reassuring to potential Living Kidney Donors, Recipients and all those connected to these people  (family members, caretakers , co-employees and friends) because now they don't have to worry about the donor dying from donating to the recipient. This should make it easier to obtain and keep the consent of the kidney donor!

Even the doctors are hopeful that reassuring data like this will ultimately help to solve the donor shortage in the U.S.

"Anything that comes along that says being a living donor is getting safer and safer over time will hopefully encourage more people to step forward and donate and give the gift of life,” said Dr. John Friedewald, medical director of the kidney transplant program at Northwestern Medicine.

9. References 

A. Thirty-Year Trends in Perioperative Mortality Risk for Living Kidney Donors

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/2822922

B. Articles That Reference The JAMA Article 

I. Kidney Donor Mortality Plummets Over 30 Years

https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/kidney-donor-mortality-plummets-over-30-years-2024a1000fop

ii. Thirty-Year Trends in Perioperative Mortality Risk for Living Kidney Donors

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39196582/

iii. Thirty-year trends in perioperative mortality risk for living kidney donors

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1055594

iv. Kidney donors' risk of death at all-time low

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/08/240828114340.htm

v. Mortality Risk Dropped for Living Kidney Donors Over the Past Decade

https://www.medpagetoday.com/nephrology/kidneytransplantation/111695

vi. 30-Year Trends in Perioperative Mortality for Kidney Donors

https://www.miragenews.com/30-year-trends-in-perioperative-mortality-for-1304744/

vii. Thirty-Year Trends in Perioperative Mortality Risk for Living Kidney Donors.

https://read.qxmd.com/read/39196582/thirty-year-trends-in-perioperative-mortality-risk-for-living-kidney-donors

viii. Perioperative Mortality Low for Living Kidney Donors

https://www.physiciansweekly.com/perioperative-mortality-low-for-living-kidney-donors/

ix. Perioperative Mortality Low for Living Kidney Donors

https://www.healthday.com/healthpro-news/kidney-health/perioperative-mortality-low-for-living-kidney-donors

X. Donating a kidney is even safer now than long thought, US study shows

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-08-donating-kidney-safer-thought.html

Xi. Insights Into Living Kidney Donor Health, Racial Disparities

https://www.renalandurologynews.com/features/insights-into-living-kidney-donor-health-racial-disparities/

xii. The True Risk of Living Kidney Donation

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/

xiii. Lifetime Risks of kidney donation: a medical decision analysis

https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/7/8/e016490

xiv. Long-term Medical Outcomes of Living Kidney Donors (LONG VERSION)

https://www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/article/S0025-6196(22)00368-8/fulltext

xv. Living Kidney Donor Follow-up: State-of-the-art and Future Directions

https://www.akdh.org/article/S1548-5595(12)00073-0/abstract

xvi. Kidney donation seen as ‘safe and getting safer

https://www.healio.com/news/nephrology/20240830/kidney-donation-seen-as-safe-and-getting-safer#:~:text=%E2%80%9CWe%20have%20long%20known%20kidney,Transplant%20Applied%20Research%20Qualitative%20Core

xvii. Donating a kidney is safer than ever, reassuring research finds

https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/donating-kidney-safer-ever-new-research-finds-rcna168524

xviii. Donating a kidney is even safer now than long thought, US study shows

https://apnews.com/article/kidney-transplant-living-donor-54f6017f04f92f9bfef52ab13155511a

xix. https://www.wbay.com/2024/09/04/interview-new-research-shows-reduced-risk-living-kidney-donors/

xiv.  Donating a kidney even more safe than previous believed, U.S. study shows

 https://www.pbs.org/newshour/health/donating-a-kidney-even-more-safe-than-previous-believed-u-s-study-shows

xv.  Kidney Donors’ Risk of Death at All-Time Low

https://nyulangone.org/news/kidney-donors-risk-death-all-time-low

xvi. Donating a kidney is safer than ever, reassuring research finds

https://www.yahoo.com/news/donating-kidney-safer-ever-reassuring-182849446.html

xvii. It's Safer to Donate a Kidney Now Than at Any Time in History

https://www.healthday.com/health-news/general-health/its-safer-to-donate-a-kidney-now-than-at-any-time-in-history

xviii. Donating a kidney has never been safer, yet the Hong Kong donation rate remains low

https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3276814/donating-kidney-has-never-been-safer-yet-hong-kong-donation-rate-remains-low

xvix.  Kidney Donations Safer Than Previously Thought: Study

https://www.newsweek.com/kidney-donations-safer-previously-thought-study-finds-1945624

 

BROADCAST ON IMPROVED KIDNEY DONOR SAFETY

Did You Miss The Broadcast on Improved Kidney Donor Safety, Uncle Jim talks about Encouraging Kidney Donation: Donating A Kidney is Safer Than Ever. Check out the Instant Replay Here!

https://www.youtube.com/live/o4eaT0Un5P8?si=phTqwJbEGuZ7m2yJ

BROADCAST WITH JENNIFER CRAMER-MILLER

 Did You Miss The Broadcast With JENNIFER CRAMER-MILLER, FSGS Patient, Multiple Kidney Transplant Recipient, Award-Winning Author of The Incurable Optimist: Living with Illness and Chronic Hope, Kidney Advocate, Speaker & Joy Seeker! Catch The Instant Replay Here!

https://www.youtube.com/live/Qyhm1W8Y7P0?si=LuWCMwvvYUhdZB0X

BROADCAST WITH GWENDOLYN WESTLUND 2

 Did You Miss The Broadcast With Gwendolyn Westlund, Cancer Survivor, Heart Transplant Recipient, Blood Recipient, Speaker & Advocate, Kidney Transplant Warrior, Seeking A Kidney Transplant? Catch The Instant Replay Here!

https://www.youtube.com/live/B7KPueU_AZA?si=IQvfMVwk6UqWBr1W

BROADCAST WITH AJ JAZROME COULTER

Did You Miss The Broadcast With AJ JAZROME COULTER, Kill Jokes Not Kidneys, Kidney Disease Survivor & Transplant Recipient, Comedian, Speaker, Advocate, Spokesperson for the Texas Kidney Foundation! Catch The Instant Replay Here! Click on the blue link, then click to unmute the sound, & click on the Black Box to start the video.
https://www.youtube.com/live/g2gs9CB4f54?si=5hoiodRCX6LrZsrE

BROADCAST WITH JEN BENSON

 

Did You Miss The Broadcast With Jen Benson, Founder and CEO of The Transplant Journey, Inc.,? She assists people through their transplant journey, double transplant survivor(Simultaneous Pancreas & Kidney Transplant),  Catch The Instant Replay Here. Click on the Black Box to start the Replay.

BROADCAST WITH MELANIE BETZ, DIETITIAN

 https://www.youtube.com/live/3xnGJNfpw70?si=CMBUyfyfRUbljuLO

Did You Miss the Live Broadcast With Melanie Betz MS, RD, CSR, FAND,  nationally recognized researcher, speaker and educator in kidney stone nutrition. Founder & CEO of The Kidney Dietitian. Catch The Instant Replay Here!
https://www.youtube.com/live/3xnGJNfpw70?si=CMBUyfyfRUbljuLO

BROADCAST WITH SUZANNE RUFF

 

DID YOU MISS THE BROADCAST  WITH SUZANNE RUFF, RELUCTANT KIDNEY DONOR, AUTHOR, PKDF, NKF KIDNEY ADVOCATE,  EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE FOR THE AAKP, PROFESSIONAL WRITER. CATCH THE INSTANT REPLAY HERE!
https://www.youtube.com/live/PHFRpIt4BbA?si=vduXcXfCHetb48Qmhttps://www.youtube.com/live/PHFRpIt4BbA?si=vduXcXfCHetb48Qm

BROADCAST WITH SHARON CAPLAN

D

id You Miss The Broadcast With SHARON CAPLAN, WHO MUST HAVE A LIVING DONOR TRANSPLANT, CROHN'S DISEASE, DESPARATELY SEEKING A PRE-EMPTIVE KIDNEY TRANSPLANT! CATCH THE INSTANT REPLAY HERE!

https://www.youtube.com/live/sRCK6iKlPMM?si=pxhbXN3WPWizFlMh

BROADCAST WITH LJ DONG

 DID YOU MISS THE BROADCAST WITH LJ DONG, YOUR QUEEN WITH ONE BEAN  KIDNEY DONOR, & MUCH MORE? CHECK OUT THE INSTANT REPLAY HERE!

https://www.youtube.com/live/huTE5VHJVco?si=3awXcVSxgKXxWKRw

https://www.youtube.com/live/huTE5VHJVco?si=3awXcVSxgKXxWKRw

BROADCAST WITH YUBERKY HERNANDEZ

Did You Miss The Broadcast With YUBERKY HERNANDEZ, Mother of her 15 year old son with PKD, who advises parents on raising children with Chronic Conditions. Catch The Instant Replay Here!
https://www.youtube.com/live/D98hMYKb2tg?si=GOJmkKOddbS_VcX2

BROADCAST WITH RISA SIMON 3

 Did You Miss The Broadcast With Risa Simon, Consultant,  Best Life Coach, Motivational Speaker, Kidney Patient Advocate and Author, on her new book for children & adults alike on living kidney donation, "SYDNEY'S KIDNEY ADVENTURE?" Catch the Instant Replay Here! PLEASE SHARE!

https://www.youtube.com/live/F6YOwjX2Q2M?si=rbF9mvAr9rNSmnuz

GWEN WESTLUND BLOG 2

 NEW BLOG: GWENDOLYN WESTLUND IS MY HERO

Introduction

I recently did a Streamyard Broadcast with Gwendolyn Westlund on World Kidney Day. She is a Cancer Survivor,  a Blood Recipient,  a Heart Transplant Patient, a Recycled Life Warrior, a Kidney Transplant Candidate and a Speaker & Advocate! Link to the Broadcast:

https://www.youtube.com/live/PZlDmet_pCE?si=IQzgmRsNNEdkfP-1

Gwen's Journey Begins with Hodgkins

Gwen 's journey began back in 2002 when she was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma at the age of 21. She was successfully treated with radiation therapy, sending her cancer into remission a year after her diagnosis.

Issues With Her Heart

This was just the start of a long list of health issues for Gwen.  Five years after the radiation for cancer,  she learned that same radiation had scarred her heart.


"After a two-week hospital stay with double lung pneumonia, I was diagnosed with congestive heart failure due to mitral valve prolapse,”Gwen said, “I managed to keep my heart problems in check over the next five years by maintaining a healthy diet and taking my prescribed medications.”


By May of 2013, Gwen went into end-stage heart failure. She felt very ill and was taken to the Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where she had numerous surgeries,  blood transfusions, eventually receiving both a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) and a temporary external right ventricular assist device (RVAD).  After being sedated for 8 days she was told she would need a new heart and had been placed on the heart transplant waiting list.

https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/ventricular-assist-device/multimedia/left-ventricular-assist-device/img-20006714

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25433641/


Gwen's Heart Transplant
After a two month hospital stay and three months waiting at home, she received the Heart Call in October of 2013 that a donor heart had been found.  The heart transplant surgery was successfully done at the Advocate-Aurora Heart Institute at Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, Illinois.
https://care.advocatehealth.com/locations/cardiology-oak-lawn-95th-st-il

Gwen's Kidneys Failed

Gwen's health issues did not end there.  During that 3 months stay in 2019, her body endured a lot of trauma and the immunosuppressive medications she took caused her kidneys to fail in March of 2019. After 3 rounds of pneumonia that year & while undergoing treatment, she suffered an Acute Kidney Injury.  Without warning she was placed on dialysis 

https://www.kidney.org/atoz/content/AcuteKidneyInjury;

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/kidney-failure/symptoms-causes/syc-20369048



She has currently been on dialysis for 4 years.

Gwen Is Seeking a Live Kidney Donor

She is currently listed for a kidney transplant at Advocate Christ Medical Center’s (Oak Lawn, IL) kidney transplant office at 708-684-7100, tell them you’d like to schedule an appointment for a donor talk for Gwendolyn Westlund.  Her post that you can share is referred to in the comments.  She is actively looking for a living donor. Currently she is on hold and they would like her to gain approximately 14 pounds, but we are confident she can do that. A living donor would be very helpful to have in her pocket.


In Gwen's own words, "I'm particularly looking forward to travel. My mom and brother and twin nephews live in North Carolina and I can't visit. There are also tons of places I'd like to go. Nieces and nephews I'd like to make better memories with." She has seen her family since the time that this blog was originally written. 

Link to Gwen's profile: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100086468287121&mibextid=ZbWKwL

Link to Gwen's Transplant Center: https://www.advocatehealth.com/health-services/organ-transplant-surgery-program/kidney-transplant/

Please share and if you can, please consider donating to this generous advocate!

Gwen's Advocacy Work

Despite all of her health issues,  Gwen has advocates for all of us with the Gift of Hope and Vitalant Blood. She also plans to walk for various organizations including the National Kidney Foundation of Illinois and ACS Relay for Life. Because of her health issues currently most of her Advocacy work is currently done on social media.

Gift of Hope: https://www.giftofhope.org/

Vitalant Blood: https://www.vitalant.org/

National Kidney Foundation of Illinois:
https://www.nkfi.org/


ACS Relay for Life: https://www.cancer.org/involved/fundraise/relay-for-life.html;

https://secure.acsevents.org/site/SPageServer?pagename=relay

Conclusion:

Gwen is an example for all of us concerning her ability to persevere through the most adverse of circumstances. Please share this blog so we can spread Gwen's story and help to find her a kidney donor!

RE-POST OF GWENDOLYN WESTLUND BLOG

NEW BLOG: GWENDOLYN WESTLUND IS MY HERO

Introduction

I recently did a Streamyard Broadcast with Gwendolyn Westlund on World Kidney Day. She is a Cancer Survivor,  a Blood Recipient,  a Heart Transplant Patient, a Recycled Life Warrior, a Kidney Transplant Candidate and a Speaker & Advocate! Link to the Broadcast:

https://www.youtube.com/live/PZlDmet_pCE?si=IQzgmRsNNEdkfP-1

Gwen's Journey Begins with Hodgkins

Gwen 's journey began back in 2002 when she was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma at the age of 21. She was successfully treated with radiation therapy, sending her cancer into remission a year after her diagnosis.

Issues With Her Heart

This was just the start of a long list of health issues for Gwen.  Five years after the radiation for cancer,  she learned that same radiation had scarred her heart.


"After a two-week hospital stay with double lung pneumonia, I was diagnosed with congestive heart failure due to mitral valve prolapse,”Gwen said, “I managed to keep my heart problems in check over the next five years by maintaining a healthy diet and taking my prescribed medications.”


By May of 2013, Gwen went into end-stage heart failure. She felt very ill and was taken to the Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where she had numerous surgeries,  blood transfusions, eventually receiving both a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) and a temporary external right ventricular assist device (RVAD).  After being sedated for 8 days she was told she would need a new heart and had been placed on the heart transplant waiting list.

https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/ventricular-assist-device/multimedia/left-ventricular-assist-device/img-20006714

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25433641/


Gwen's Heart Transplant
After a two month hospital stay and three months waiting at home, she received the Heart Call in October of 2013 that a donor heart had been found.  The heart transplant surgery was successfully done at the Advocate-Aurora Heart Institute at Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, Illinois.
https://care.advocatehealth.com/locations/cardiology-oak-lawn-95th-st-il

Gwen's Kidneys Failed

Gwen's health issues did not end there.  During that 3 months stay in 2019, her body endured a lot of trauma and the immunosuppressive medications she took caused her kidneys to fail in March of 2019. After 3 rounds of pneumonia that year & while undergoing treatment, she suffered an Acute Kidney Injury.  Without warning she was placed on dialysis 

https://www.kidney.org/atoz/content/AcuteKidneyInjury;

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/kidney-failure/symptoms-causes/syc-20369048



She has currently been on dialysis for 3 years.

Gwen Is Seeking a Live Kidney Donor

She is currently listed for a kidney transplant at Advocate Christ Medical Center’s (Oak Lawn, IL) kidney transplant office at 708-684-7100, tell them you’d like to schedule an appointment for a donor talk for Gwendolyn Westlund.  Her post that you can share is referred to in the comments.  She is actively looking for a living donor.


In Gwen's own words, "I'm particularly looking forward to travel. My mom and brother and twin nephews live in North Carolina and I can't visit. There are also tons of places I'd like to go. Nieces and nephews I'd like to make better memories with."

Link to Gwen's request for a kidney: https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=3043498069252354&id=100007765724022;

Link to Gwen's Transplant Center: https://www.advocatehealth.com/health-services/organ-transplant-surgery-program/kidney-transplant/

Please share and if you can, please consider donating to this generous advocate!

Gwen's Advocacy Work

Despite all of her health issues,  Gwen still advocates for all of us with the Gift of Hope and Vitalant Blood. She also plans to walk for various organizations including the National Kidney Foundation of Illinois and ACS Relay for Life.

Gift of Hope: https://www.giftofhope.org/

Vitalant Blood: https://www.vitalant.org/

National Kidney Foundation of Illinois:
https://www.nkfi.org/


ACS Relay for Life: https://www.cancer.org/involved/fundraise/relay-for-life.html;

https://secure.acsevents.org/site/SPageServer?pagename=relay

Conclusion:

Gwen is an example for all of us concerning her ability to persevere through the most adverse of circumstances. Please share this blog so we can spread Gwen's story and help to find her a kidney donor!

https://www.facebook.com/share/2GY4g3KDJwuFVWDd/?mibextid=oFDknk

Jim Myers 

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BROADCAST WITH JAMIE IMHOFF

 DID YOU MISS THE BROADCAST WITH JAMIE IMHOFF, 2XS TRANSPLANT SURVIVOR (KIDNEY AND LIVER), AMBASSADOR FOR DONATE LIFE, UNOS, THE RED CROSS, ALF & AKF? CATCH THE INSTANT REPLAY HERE!

https://www.youtube.com/live/OP7ENWX57I8?si=GoSkTejJG9DrES4h