In the Find A Kidney Blog, you’ll find both education and inspiration in your search for a living kidney donor, including tips from experts who have conducted a successful search and personal stories from people who have been in your situation and were able to find a living donor for a kidney transplant.
If you’re in kidney failure, finding a living donor could be your best chance at getting a transplant sooner—and with better long-term results. However, many potential donors don’t even know that living kidney donation is possible. Here’s what you need to know so you can help others understand what living kidney donation is, how it …
On February 3, 2022, I was diagnosed with kidney failure. My life was turned upside down. I began dialysis treatments three days a week, each session lasting four long hours in a chair. At the time, I was living in Memphis, Tennessee, and the emotional and physical toll was unlike anything I had ever experienced.
If you are considering or planning to have a kidney transplant, you probably know that a successful transplant depends on receiving a kidney that is a good “match” for you. What you may not know is the role de novo DSA plays in determining the risk of rejection of the donated kidney. What Is DSA?
Oliver was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease when he was eight years old. His kidneys never really grew; the doctors don’t know why. We are an adoptive family, and we don’t have any information about the birth family. He didn’t really have any symptoms, but he had short stature, and when they started to investigate …
If you’ve been diagnosed with chronic kidney disease (CKD), you may be wondering when to start looking for a living kidney donor. The short answer: sooner than you think. You don’t need to wait until your kidneys fail or until you’re on dialysis to start looking for a donor. In fact, starting early gives you …
I am 35 years old and will soon celebrate my ninth kidney-versary! The first indication that something was wrong with my kidneys was when I was around 24 years old. I went in for a regular checkup and they said there was protein in my urine and my creatinine level was high for someone my …
If you have been diagnosed with kidney failure and are considering a kidney transplant, you’ve probably heard a lot about matching, such as blood type, tissue type, or antibodies. One word you may not be familiar with is “eplets.” Just like blood and tissue type, eplet matching plays an important role in kidney transplants—how well …
When I was diagnosed with PKD at 15, I knew a transplant was in my future. Decades later at age 52, I found out how much I didn’t know about the process. Now, looking back, I’m amazed by how much the National Kidney Registry (NKR) transformed my experience. What I Wish I Had Known Sooner …
If you need a kidney transplant and have been told that you are “sensitized,” you might be wondering what that really means—and what you can do about it. What is Sensitization? Being sensitized means your immune system has developed antibodies that make it harder to find a compatible organ for transplant. These antibodies may come …