Directed donation for a transplant

hyacinth003 · ‎03-12-2010

To be honest, I had not heard of this before.

My best friend's nephew has an autoimmune kidney disease. He got this as a child. His mother (my friend's sister) donated a kidney some years ago. Over time, it has been failing. He was on peritoneal dialysis every 4 hours for quite some time. He is 20 years old - what a life!

My friend was tested, and she was found to be a match for him. She offered to donate her kidney. At first, her sister said absolutely not. With her son deteriorating on a transplant list, she agreed to it.

So they started evaluating them both for the surgery. She was approved as a donor. Turned out, her nephew had some complications, and he needed several blood transfusions. The transfusions produced antibodies in his blood rendering her no longer a match for him.

So they did what's called a directed donation. It's a kidney swap! She had to donate her kidney to someone they matched to her closer to her age. Her nephew would receive a kidney from someone closer to his age. Turned out to be a 6 or 7 person swap.

My friend donated her kidney to a woman in our area and her nephew received a kidney. He is doing well so far, and my friend has met and had lunch with her kidney recipient. Several teaching hospitals do this I learned.

My friend seems humble about it, but I said she was a hero. I don't think everyone would do this.

Hyacinth

NickNack · ‎03-10-2010

I don't think everyone would do this either. For a nephew, though, many people would. I think it's wonderful that she did this. I've never heard of it either, but love that this is available. I'm so glad her nephew is doing well.

The Bluebird Carries The Sky On His Back"
-Henry David Thoreau

Plaid Pants2 · ‎03-14-2015

I have heard of these organ swap chains.

As long as it gets people to donate, it's all good!

chrystaltree · ‎05-10-2010

Yes, I have heard of those kidney...swaps...for lack of a better word. Organs are so rare that I think it's a great idea and it does take a special person to do this.

kelsey17 · ‎04-10-2012

Yes....def have heard of it...one of my neices best friends had similar kidney issues....she went for the testing ....unfortunately she wasn't a match ....and she would prob have done the "swap" thing....BUT while testing her they actually found she had some kidney issues which she has been having repaired/taken care of and it actually helped her hopefully with any kidney issues in the future.....the docs had told her she couldn't donate......they did finally find a donar who was another friend who actually MATCHED him........and the recipient and the donar are doing well with the new at this point.....................

Allegheny · ‎03-19-2010

Yes, I became aware of the program when I was being tested for a kidney donation for a friend.

Bri36 · ‎02-20-2017

I've never heard of that many people involved.

It's tough being on those transplant lists.

VanSleepy · ‎10-05-2010

I saw this once on an episode of some medical TV show. Of course for added drama they had one of the donors change his mind at the last minute, which affects everyone in the chain, but I could see that happening in real life, too. So glad your friend and her nephew are doing well :-)

Cakers3 · ‎06-17-2015

@hyacinth003 wrote:
To be honest, I had not heard of this before.

My best friend's nephew has an autoimmune kidney disease. He got this as a child. His mother (my friend's sister) donated a kidney some years ago. Over time, it has been failing. He was on peritoneal dialysis every 4 hours for quite some time. He is 20 years old - what a life!

My friend was tested, and she was found to be a match for him. She offered to donate her kidney. At first, her sister said absolutely not. With her son deteriorating on a transplant list, she agreed to it.

So they started evaluating them both for the surgery. She was approved as a donor. Turned out, her nephew had some complications, and he needed several blood transfusions. The transfusions produced antibodies in his blood rendering her no longer a match for him.

So they did what's called a directed donation. It's a kidney swap! She had to donate her kidney to someone they matched to her closer to her age. Her nephew would receive a kidney from someone closer to his age. Turned out to be a 6 or 7 person swap.

My friend donated her kidney to a woman in our area and her nephew received a kidney. He is doing well so far, and my friend has met and had lunch with her kidney recipient. Several teaching hospitals do this I learned.

My friend seems humble about it, but I said she was a hero. I don't think everyone would do this.

Hyacinth

@hyacinth003 I very happy all turned out well.

However, I'm a tad confused-if there was a donor who could give to the nephew after your friend couldn't, does that mean he couldn't get the other kidney unless your friend donated to somebody else???

I've never heard of this so I'm just asking. It sounded as though he would be left out unless your friend helped out another person.

I know donations are needed and lists are long, and often too late.

"" Compassion is a verb."-Thich Nhat Hanh

hyacinth003 · ‎03-12-2010

@Cakers3 wrote:
@hyacinth003 wrote:
To be honest, I had not heard of this before.

My best friend's nephew has an autoimmune kidney disease. He got this as a child. His mother (my friend's sister) donated a kidney some years ago. Over time, it has been failing. He was on peritoneal dialysis every 4 hours for quite some time. He is 20 years old - what a life!

My friend was tested, and she was found to be a match for him. She offered to donate her kidney. At first, her sister said absolutely not. With her son deteriorating on a transplant list, she agreed to it.

So they started evaluating them both for the surgery. She was approved as a donor. Turned out, her nephew had some complications, and he needed several blood transfusions. The transfusions produced antibodies in his blood rendering her no longer a match for him.

So they did what's called a directed donation. It's a kidney swap! She had to donate her kidney to someone they matched to her closer to her age. Her nephew would receive a kidney from someone closer to his age. Turned out to be a 6 or 7 person swap.

My friend donated her kidney to a woman in our area and her nephew received a kidney. He is doing well so far, and my friend has met and had lunch with her kidney recipient. Several teaching hospitals do this I learned.

My friend seems humble about it, but I said she was a hero. I don't think everyone would do this.

Hyacinth
@hyacinth003 I very happy all turned out well.

However, I'm a tad confused-if there was a donor who could give to the nephew after your friend couldn't, does that mean he couldn't get the other kidney unless your friend donated to somebody else???

I've never heard of this so I'm just asking. It sounded as though he would be left out unless your friend helped out another person.

I know donations are needed and lists are long, and often too late.