Living Donor FAQ

Living donation takes place when a living person donates a kidney for transplantation to another person.

Donating to a loved one can reduce the patient's waiting time on the organ transplant list and reduce time on dialysis. Living donation improves the patient's quality of life, increases time spent together and has a higher success rate than deceased organ donation.

Any healthy individual with normal kidney function may be able to donate. Blood type differences do not eliminate the potential for donation.

Yes, a person with only one kidney is at no more of a disadvantage compared to someone with two kidneys. When a person donates their kidney, the remaining kidney will increase in function. Kidney donors live normal, full lives after donation.

Typically, donor's length of stay in the hospital is about 2 to 3 days and back to work within 4 to 6 weeks. After discharge, donors are asked not to lift anything greater than 10 lbs for 8 weeks.

If you are interested in being a potential donor, please call University Hospitals Transplant Institute for more information at 216-868-8861.