Kidney Transplant + Living Kidney Donor

Getting help for a living kidney donation can feel hard, but you don’t have to do it alone. Havingyourdonorfindyou.org offers advice from a former kidney recipient on asking for help and starting the conversation. Here are some tips to get you started:

• Reach out: Many people are willing to help — you just need to share your story with them.  
• Get support: You don’t have to do this alone. A spouse, family member or friend can help share your story.
• Start small: If an in-person conversation feels too tricky, consider starting with an email, phone call or text. Your coordinator can provide examples to help you get started.  
• Begin with loved ones: Friends and family are the best place to start when discussing your need for a kidney transplant. If you don’t find success there, consider reaching out to acquaintances. We recommend avoiding large social media campaigns at first; the best donor is likely someone you or your loved ones know personally.  
• Highlight the benefits: Let people know that even though you’re on the deceased donor waitlist, you can still receive a kidney from a living donor, which often lasts longer and may mean a quicker transplant.  
• Keep the conversation going: Don’t stop looking for a donor until you have someone approved and ready to donate. We can evaluate more than one potential donor at a time.  
• Don’t give up: The first few people you talk to might not be ready or able to donate. But by sharing your story, you increase the chances of reaching the right person at the right time.  

To donate a kidney, you need to be at least 18 years old, in good physical and mental health, and fully understand the risks and benefits of donation. You and your care team will decide together if living donation is the right choice for you. 

Yes, blood type does matter between a donor and a recipient. The donor and recipient need to have compatible blood types to make the transplant possible. There are four major blood types: A, B, AB, and O. Some blood type combinations work together, while others don’t.

We will do two blood tests—one to check the blood type and another to test tissue compatibility—to see if the donor’s blood matches the recipient’s. All test results are kept private and are only shared with the donor.

If the donor and recipient aren’t a match, the donor can still take part in a “swap.” In this case, the donor gives their kidney to someone else, and in return, the intended recipient gets a compatible kidney from another donor.

It’s important to know that potential donors can apply even if they don’t know their blood type. If they pass the evaluation, they can still donate.

During the evaluation, potential living donors will need to visit Tufts Medical Center in Boston for an in-person check-up. Some tests, like bloodwork and urine testing, can be done closer to home before the visit.

Before coming to Tufts, the donor will have a phone call with an Independent Living Donor Advocate (ILDA). This person makes sure the donor feels no pressure to donate and understands they can change their mind at any time.

The required tests include bloodwork, urine tests, a chest X-ray, an EKG (heart test), and a CT scan. Donors also need to be up to date on cancer screenings based on their age and doctor’s recommendations.

After the evaluation, the transplant team will review the results and talk to the donor about any additional tests that might be needed.

The recipient’s insurance covers the living donor's evaluation, surgery and recovery visits. However, costs like travel, lodging and time off work are usually not covered. There are programs, such as the National Living Donor Assistance Center, that may help with these extra costs, depending on the recipient’s income. The recipient’s social work team can provide more details and help with finding support for these expenses.

Donating a kidney should not affect a donor’s lifestyle in the long term. A person can live a normal, healthy and active life with just one kidney. The donor evaluation process makes sure that the person is healthy enough to donate and that they can continue living well after the donation.

During a donor transplant, the surgery usually takes a few hours. Doctors often use a method called laparoscopic surgery, which involves making small cuts on the belly and just below the belly button. This technique helps with faster recovery and less scarring compared to traditional surgery.

After the donor surgery, most donors stay in the hospital for 1 night. They are encouraged to get out of bed and move around as soon as they feel steady, often the same day as the surgery. To help with pain, donors receive local numbing medication at their incisions for the first 24 hours.

The most common discomfort is bloating and gas-like pain, which usually goes away within a few days. Most donors don't need narcotics (strong pain medicine) and can manage pain with non-narcotic medication.

Donors will need someone to help them with daily tasks for 3 to 5 days after leaving the hospital. Most donors can go back to work within 2 to 4 weeks, but those with physically demanding jobs may need more time to recover.

If you have more questions about donating a kidney, it's okay to take your time. Some people decide quickly, while others need more time to gather information and think it over. Donating a kidney is a selfless gift, and our team supports whatever decision you make.

If you're interested in living donation, we encourage you to start by applying and speaking with our donor team. You can change your mind at any time during the process.

If you have specific questions, feel free to email us at donateakidney@tuftsmedicine.org.