What if My Child Needs Another Kidney Transplant? How Vouchers Help Protect Their Future
For a child with kidney disease, a transplant can restore energy, improve growth, and allow them to return to a normal, healthy life.
But transplanted kidneys don’t last forever. For pediatric kidney patients, the National Kidney Registry’s (NKR’s) Voucher Program offers a way to plan ahead for future transplants, so a kidney is available when they need it most.
Why Do Children Often Need a Second Kidney Transplant?
Even a well-matched kidney from a living donor has a limited lifespan. On average, a kidney from a deceased donor lasts 8–15 years, and one from a living kidney donor lasts 20–40 years.
For children, this is especially important because they have many years of life ahead, and will likely outlive the function of their first transplanted kidney. As a result, many pediatric kidney transplant recipients will need a second transplant in their lifetime.
The Challenge of Finding a Future Donor
When the transplanted kidney begins to fail and it’s time to think about another transplant, finding a compatible donor can be difficult.
First, while pediatric kidney patients receive priority on the deceased donor list, that priority does not continue into adulthood. If a child receives a transplant and later needs another one as an adult, they must join the waitlist without priority status, which can result in significantly longer wait times.
For children, the median wait time for a deceased donor kidney is 1.7 years. The wait can be much longer for adults, ranging from three to five years on average.
How the Voucher Program Can Help
Having a living kidney donor can significantly shorten the wait time, but finding a living donor can take time, especially if family members have already donated or been eliminated.
The Voucher Program gives families a way to plan ahead for future transplants. With the Voucher Program, multiple donors can donate on behalf of a child when they need their first transplant. One voucher can be used for the immediate transplant, and any additional vouchers can be saved in case they need a transplant in the future.
Vouchers never expire and can be redeemed at any time. If someone who received a transplant as a child later needs another transplant as an adult, they can redeem one of their saved vouchers and the NKR will immediately begin searching its donor pool for a compatible match. Once a match is found, the transplant can be scheduled. According to the latest NKR data, the median wait time for voucher recipients is just 1.9 months.
Another advantage of the Voucher Program is that it allows willing donors to act when they are ready and motivated to help. Someone who is able and eager to donate today may not be able to donate years later due to changes in health, age, or personal circumstances. The Voucher Program helps secure those donations now, providing families with added protection and peace of mind for the future.
The Importance of Post-Transplant Microsites
If a child used a microsite as part of their search for a living donor, that microsite can continue to work for them even after they have been transplanted.
Once the child’s transplant is complete, the family can opt to keep the microsite live as a post-transplant microsite. Visitors will be able to learn more about the child’s transplant journey and register as a potential voucher donor.
Any donations that go through the microsite will generate a voucher for the child, which can be redeemed for a future transplant.
By planning ahead with the Voucher Program, families can reduce uncertainty, protect their child’s future, and ensure that when the time comes, they’re ready.
