Introduction by Colin Roy, one of Jules’ Living Donor Champions

As I’ve been sharing Jules’ story through my social network, I’m typically met with two different reactions to her urgent need for a kidney transplant. Maybe 5% of the time, someone knows a person who’s either been a kidney donor or a recipient and has a beautiful story to share, but 95% of the time people are shocked and feel awful for Jules, yet also seem to misunderstand, as I did initially, how normal life can be with one kidney and how minimally invasive the procedure actually is for both parties. Essentially, donating would make comparatively little difference to the donor other than time out of work for evaluations, the surgery, and the subsequent healing/recovery period, but it would make a world of difference for Jules!If my own health issues didn’t disqualify me from donating, I would be first in line to “share my spare” with my glorious friend, Jules. I hope that as you hear the stories below, you will consider becoming a Jules’ living kidney donor.

Life as a Donor

Contemplating living organ donation can be a very emotional process – one riddled with questions, scarcity of information, and concerns about potential risks. The good news is that donating a kidney, once medically cleared to do so, involves very little risk to you, the donor,  

and absolutely no lifestyle alterations or long-lasting physical discomfort while providing the miracle of a renewed, healthier, and longer life to the recipient of your generous gift. In fact, whoever receives your transplanted kidney can go on to live an average of 10-20 years free of dialysis or further complications, and after a few weeks of rest and recovery, YOUR life can resume as before, with the satisfaction and confidence of knowing that you just saved a life and created an everlasting bond with your recipient. 

Benefits to a Donor

Donor Love Stories

To be a living donor is a very special kind of gift. Here are some great examples of kidney donor love stories!

More Uplifting Stories of Donors and Recipients on Youtube:

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Kidney+Donation+Stories

One of Many Compelling Donor Stories on the Renewal Site 

See More at www.renewal.org

Living Donor FAQs

Are there financial risks or rewards when donating your kidney?

It is not lawful to accept compensation of any kind for an organ donation. However, expenses incurred for testing, medical exams, and travel likely will be covered through insurance or partnering foundations. 

What qualifies you to be a donor?

To start, there is a questionnaire about your and your family’s medical history and lifestyle. Further, lab work and physical examinations will be required. The doctors will ensure you are a healthy, low-risk candidate and begin testing for blood and tissue matching with Jules. If you are approved as a donor but not compatible with Jules, you may still opt to participate with her in an exchange program called paired donation. A computer system would match Jules’ incompatible donor with a compatible patient from the transplant list whose donor DOES match Jules, allowing for a swap and enabling each patient with a donor to receive a compatible kidney transplant.

What is the process of donation like?

The actual donation is a minimally invasive surgery, done in 2-3 hours, under anesthesia. Recovery in the hospital is 1-2 days while the incision heals, and you might experience minor discomfort or itching. Afterwards, it’s important to rest as much as possible and not to do any heavy lifting for 6-8 weeks. However, most often donors may return to work if they choose on weeks 2 or 3. 

What is it like to live with only 1 kidney?

Surprisingly, there are no reported differences in functioning of bodily systems pre- and post-donation. Your remaining kidney completely takes on the task of blood filtration and does a great job! Some may say – this is why God gave everyone two kidneys!  All elements of the donor’s lifestyle including energy levels, exercise patterns, and sports activities will return to normal. 

What if I donated a kidney and then something happens to my only remaining kidney?

In the rare chance, roughly 1 in 100 according to WebMD, that you would require a kidney transplant after serving as a donor, you would be moved toward the top of the transplant list!

For a More Comprehensive and Detailed Discussion of the Risks and Rewards of Living Kidney Donation, Read this Presentation by University of Maryland Medical School:

https://www.umms.org/-/media/files/ummc/campaigns/living-donor-guide-questionnaire-kidney  

IF YOU WOULD CONSIDER BEING JULES’ LIVING DONOR,

Please visit http://www.pslmc.com/signmeup to fill out a survey to start the evaluation process. Link will open One Medical Passport. Click green “Register button. Create your account. Continue. Choose Presbyterian/St. Luke’s as Medical Facility. Enter JULIA ARONSON as Named Recipient.                                                                   

You may also call the PSL Transplant Center at (720) 754-2155 or (800) 758-1005, Option 3.