I NEED A KIDNEY DONOR

Because it saves lives. Patients with kidney failure often wait years for a transplant. A living kidney donor offers them a chance to get off dialysis sooner—with a kidney that typically lasts longer and works better.

 Yes. Most people are born with two kidneys, but you only need one healthy kidney to live a full, normal life. 

There is no age limit for donating a kidney.  You just need to be in good physical and mental health. You’ll go through a full medical screening to make sure donating is safe for you and the person receiving your kidney.

It usually involves:

• A health questionnaire and lab tests
• A full medical and psychological evaluation
• Approval by a transplant team
• Scheduling surgery if you’re cleared to donate

 No. The recipient’s insurance covers your medical expenses for evaluation, surgery, and follow-up. The National Kidney Register can help with travel, lodging, lost wages and more through the Donor Shield Program. 

 Most donors go home within 1–3 days after surgery and return to normal activities in 4–6 weeks. Many are back to work in 2–4 weeks, depending on the job. 

All surgery carries some risk, but major complications are rare. Most donors go on to live healthy lives. Your remaining kidney grows slightly and takes over the work of both 

 Not at all in the long run. You’ll live with one kidney, but your life expectancy and health outlook remain the same. You’ll have yearly check-ups to monitor your kidney function. 

Yes. Many women have healthy pregnancies after donating. Just let your doctor know you’re a kidney donor so they can monitor you more closely during pregnancy. 

 No. You can donate to a friend, coworker, spouse—or even a stranger. Non-directed (anonymous) donors are incredibly valuable and deeply appreciated. 

 You can still help through a Kidney Paired Exchange—a program that matches incompatible donor/recipient pairs with others in the same situation so everyone gets a compatible transplant. 

 Federal law prohibits health insurers from denying coverage or raising premiums because you were a donor. Still, it’s wise to check with your provider.  

Yes. You can decide not to donate at any point. The process is completely voluntary, and your privacy and choice will be fully respected.

Many say it’s one of the most meaningful things they’ve ever done. You’re giving someone a second chance at life—and most donors feel just as grateful as the recipients. 

 There aren’t enough kidneys available for the people who need one. The numbers say it all:

• Over 100,000 people in the U.S. are waiting for a kidney transplant.
• In 2021, only 24,669 people received a kidney.
• Over 75,000 individuals did not receive a kidney and are still waiting.
• The transplant waiting list keeps growing: every 14 minutes, someone new joins the list.
• The average wait time for a deceased donor kidney is 3-5 years and can be up to 8-10 years.
• About 13 people on the transplant list die EVERY DAY waiting for a kidney.