There are basically two types of surgery done for living organ donors. They are both equally effective. In both cases the kidney is removed successfully. The primary difference between the two surgeries is that Laparoscopic surgery is a less taxing on the living donor. The traditional surgry involves an 8 to 12 inch cut on the side of the body and sometimes required the parital removal of a rib. Where as the laparascopic donation uses 4 1 inch cuts on the front and side of the body. The recovery time is usually half of the traditaionl type of surgery. I personally had the laparascopic method of removal. However one of my good frinds had the traditaional method. We are both doing fine now and so are our recipients. He took about 3-5 week longer to recover than I did. But the end result is the same, we both saved a life :-).

Creatinine is a protein produced by muscle and released into the blood. The amount produced is relatively stable in a given person. The creatinine level in the serum is therefore determined by the rate it is being removed, which is roughly a measure of kidney function. If kidney function falls (say a kidney is removed to donate to a relative), the creatinine level will rise. Normal is about 1 for an average adult. Infants that have little muscle will have lower normal levels (0.2). Muscle bound weight lifters may have a higher normal creatinine. Serum creatinine only reflects renal function in a steady state. After removing a kidney, if the donor's blood is checked right away the serum creatinine will still be 1. In the next day the creatinine will rise to a new steady state (usually about 1.8). If both kidneys were removed (say for cancer) the creatinine would continue to rise daily until dialysis is begun. How fast it rises depends on creatinine production, which is again related to how much muscle one has. A baby may need dialysis when the creatinine reaches 2, whereas a normal adult may be able to hold off until 10, or higher.

Organ donation is all about the gift of GIVING, and in return you Get a new outlook. "if you are looking for a quick buck, try amway. will give that matters.crap for it anyway there. Besides, paid donation is illegal in the United States. To date, no reputable organization pays for human organs anywhere in the world. Although paid donation may occur in some parts of the world, the lack of accountability of the unscrupulous individuals that engage in this practice means that it is an unsafe to either donate a kidney through such an organization, or purchase a kidney in this way.

The National Organ Transplant Act (Public Law 98-507) prohibits the sale of human organs. Violators are subject to fines up to $50,000 and five years in federal prison. Congress is concerned that buying and selling organs might lead to unequal access to donor organs with the wealthy having an unfair advantage.

According to the United Network for Organ Sharing, there are over 61,000 people waiting for transplants in the United States alone. In Canada, there are about 2,500 people waiting (US data at UNOS site, Canadian data at CAT site). Worldwide, the numbers are much larger. In the United States alone, a new name is added to the transplant waiting list every 16 minutes. (source: UNOS)

Yes, I am dating alot more often!!! Let me tell you something, as far as the donor is concered life is the same. Same diet, same exercise etc. You just need to be more carefull about yourself. dont overeat or overdrink. and be careful when it comes to contact sports (wear a protective over your remaining kidney) There are no repercussions of having only one functioning kidney on one's activites of daily living. In long term studies, there appears to be a slightly increased chance of developing high blood pressure. Life expectancy is unchanged by having only one kidney. A person with one kidney can bear children or father children, work, play sports, and enjoy life the same as someone with two kidneys.

The primary risk during the surgery is any risk a surgery has, after the operation you need to realize you will have only 1 kidney so you need to take care of yourself and try not to get it injured. A human body only needs 48% of your 2kidneys to funciton. by givin away one, you will still function perfectly normal. just becasue you only have one does not put you more at risk for kidney disease or anything like that. The results with kidney transplantation from a living donor are excellent, and the risk to the donor is small. The short and long term risks are well documented. You will need to plan on 4 to 6 weeks off work, some pain and discomfort due to the incision, and you must spend time being carefully evaluated prior to being accepted as a potential donor. The mortality for the operation for the donor is estimated to be 0.06%, or one in 3,000 chance of dying from the surgery. This risk is far less than the general mortality of an appendectomy, a hernia repair, or a gall bladder operation. In the case of a successful transplant, the recipient generally has few restrictions on their life. Most transplant patients say they feel much healthier, energetic, and well than when they were on dialysis. Post strep glomerulonephritis is related to an infection, and is therefore not known to be hereditary to my knowledge. Part of the evaluation process of every potential living kidney donor is a careful investigation to exclude any potential donors that may have unsuspected underlying medical diseases that would make them at a higher risk to donate, and to exclude any familial kidney diseases.

Laparascopic 3-6 weks. Traditiaonl 5-8 weeks. till back to day to day regualr activities. How long does kidney donation recovery take? Total recovery time from major abdominal surgery is usually 4 to 6 weeks.

Answer: Each of us inherits half of our genes from our mother and half from our father. The genes responsible for immunological reactions to transplanted organs are close to each other on a single chromosome; so, for the most part, they are inherited as a single group, called a haplotype. If siblings recieve the same group of genes from each parent, they are a two-haplotype (full or complete) match. If they receive one group that is the same and one group that is different, they are a one-haplotype (half) match. If both groups of genes are different they are a zero haplotype match. In general, two-haplotyped matched living related donor kidney transplants have a 50% chance of achieving 24 years of function, one-haplotyped matched living related donor kidney transplants have a 50% chance of achieving 12 years of function, and cadaver donor kidney transplants have a 50% chance of achieving 9 years of function (Cecka and Terasaki, "The UNOS Scientific Renal Transplant Registry", Clinical Transplants 1993, Paul I Terasaki and JM Cecka, eds., UCLA Tissue Typing Registry, 1993:1-18). This does not mean, for example, that a two-haplotype matched living related transplant will function for 25 years and then fail, or that a cadaveric donor transplant will last 9 years and fail. Any individual transplant, if well cared for, may last much longer. Alan Leichtman, MD (University of Michigan)

An often-heard question when organ donation is being discussed is: "Does my religion approve?" Recently the New York Regional Transplant Program published the views of major religion on the subject. Here are those positions. What are the major religions' teachings on organ and tissue donation?

All major religions approve of organ and tissue donation as a charitable act of giving. Most express that it is an individual decision. If one has any questions concerning religious teachings on organ and tissue donation, consult with a spiritual leader.

There is no charge to the family for donation of organs and tissues. Any costs related to the family's donation are paid for by the organ, tissue, and/or eye bank and passed on to the recipient. Hospital costs that have occurred prior to the declaration of death, as well as funeral costs, remain the responsibility of the donor's family.

Private health insurance companies pay for most transplants. Medicare and Medicaid programs also pay for certain transplants for those who are eligible. Medicare coverage is provided for almost all kidney transplants through the End-Stage Renal Disease program. Medicare can also cover heart and liver transplant recipients if the recipient is Medicare eligible and the transplant is performed at a Medicare-approved center. Only a small percentage of heart and liver transplant recipients are Medicare eligible.
Medicaid coverage for organ transplants is determined by the individual's State Medicaid program. For those states providing such coverage, the Federal Government will provide funds on a matching basis. South Carolina provides such funding for all organ and corneal transplants

Top 10 Myths About Donation & Transplantation
Myth #1
"I heard about this guy who went to a party, and woke up the next morning in a bathtub full of ice. His kidneys were stolen for sale on the black market!"
Reality: There is no documented case of this ever happening. Period. First, it is illegal to buy and sell organs in the United States. "Public Law 98-507 prohibits the sale of human organs. Second, due to the complexity of transplantation, piracy is practically impossible. The process of matching donors with recipients, the need for highly skilled medical professionals to perform the surgery, and the need for modern medical facilities and support necessary for transplantation make it highly unlikely that this system could be duplicated in secrecy. " References: HRSA, UNOS

Myth #2
"Rich and famous people get moved to the top of the waiting list, while 'regular' people have to wait a long time for a transplant."
Reality: The organ allocation and distribution system is blind to wealth or social status. "The length of time it takes to receive a transplant is governed by many factors, including blood type, length of time on the waiting list, severity of illness and other medical criteria. Factors such as race, gender, age, income or celebrity status are never considered when determining who receives an organ." Reference: UNOS
Myth #3
"If I'm in an accident and the hospital knows I want to be a donor, the doctors won't try to save my life!"
Reality: The medical team treating you is separate from the transplant team. The organ procurement organization (OPO) is not notified until all lifesaving efforts have failed and death has been determined. The OPO does not notify the transplant team until your family has consented to donation. See Q&A on Brain Death.

Myth #4
"My religion does not approve of donation."
Reality: All organized religions support donation, typically considering it a generous act that is the individual's choice. See "Religious Views on Donation."

Myth #5
"I don't want my family to have to pay if I want to donate my organs."
Reality: A donor's family is not charged for donation. If a family believes it has been billed incorrectly, the family should immediately contact its local organ procurement organization.

Myth #6
"If I donate, I would worry that the recipient and/or the recipient's family would discover my identity and cause more grief for my family."
Reality: Information about the donor is released by the OPO to the recipients only if the family that donated requests that it be provided. See "Contacting the Recipients/Contacting the Family."

Myth #7
"I have a history of medical illness. You would not want my organs or tissues."
Reality: At the time of death, the OPO will review medical and social histories to determine donor suitability on a case-by-case basis.

Myth #8
"I am not the right age for donation."
Reality: Age limits for organ donation no longer exist; however, the general age limit for tissue donation is 70. Organs may be donated from someone as young as a newborn.

Myth #9
"I heard that they take everything, even if I only want to donate my eyes."
Reality: You may specify which organs you want donated. Your wishes will be followed.

Myth #10
"Organ and tissue donation means my body will be mutilated and treated badly."
Reality: Donated organs are removed surgically, in a routine operation similar to gallbladder or appendix removal. Donation doesn't disfigure the body or change the way it looks in a casket. Normal funeral arrangements are possible.

Talk about it with your family. The single most important way to "register" as a donor is to "register" your wishes with your family so they will know your decision. Donor cards, driver's license stickers, and other means may also be used, but first be sure your next of kin knows your wishes! Discuss your decision with your family; make sure they know what you want, and find out what they want. You can use signing your driver's license or signing a donor card to raise the subject, or you may want to take the "First Family Pledge" (see www.familypledge.org). How to Get a Donor Card If you want a Mickey Mantle donor card, call 1-800-477-MICK (i.e. 1-800-477-6425) to ask for one to be mailed to your home. You can also visit the Mickey Mantle Foundation's page at: http://www.transweb.org/mantle.html. Several versions of a downloadable, printable donor card are available at Dave Knaus' web page at http://www.execpc.com/~wa9pov/donrcard.html. You can also order a donor card at the New England Organ Bank web site: http://www.neob.org/form.html You can call the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) at 1-800-243-6667 (a.k.a. 1-800-24 DONOR) to order a donor card. You can visit the National Kidney Foundation's web page on donation, which has an image of a uniform organ donor card. Contact your region's organ procurement agency and ask for a donor card, or visit the federal government's organ donation web site. You can also check at your local Secretary of State's office, and ask for the sticker that goes on the back of your driver's license.