Kidney Transplants

mikewilkes

mikewilkes

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Has anybody done the live donor bit?

My wee sister's kidneys are rooted and she should be in line for a transplant in June time. Is a sibling kidney more acceptable and what are the ins and outs of it all?

Let me say at the outset that the thought of surgey scares the living s**t out of me but I feel that I should possibly go down this road.

Any comments or suggestions greatfully recieved.
 
Brave to offer. as a sibling you are more likely to be a match but not guaranteed. Sure you havent worn yours out with amount of alcohol? /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
got to the final screening stage for donation with the anthony nolan trust and was ready to go to hospital for the op when it was cancelled as 'the recipient's condition had changed' - presumably they died.

it all sounded fine when signing up but became a bit worrying when staring it in the face. i gather extraction of bone marrow is pretty unpleasant.
 
Dilemna indeed. Like you, I am terrified of surgery.

But, if it was one of my sisters I'd have to do it. Hope it never comes to be, I think you already know the answer and I am not qualified to give medical advice.
 
I volunteered one but they took a look and said it wasn't compatible, it was for Dear Heart's sister. She has another sister and a brother, none of which were suitable. She did get one eventually and is absolutely grand now - not quite in the Jonah Lomu bracket but much prettier than he is.
 
You are far more likely to be a match as a sibling than compared to a huge number of the mass populace. It doesn't mean automatically that you will be a match however.

You should be able to receive counselling about the pro's and con's, but don't be pressurised emotionally into doing this if you are really terrified. You may regret it later. Personally, if required, yes I'd do it for a loved one, but wouldn't be as brave as some people who donate anonymously

Have a look at
http://www.cambridge-transplant.org.uk/program/renal/guidelines.htm

and

http://www.uktransplant.org.uk/ukt/how_t...idney_donor.jsp
 
If you don't do it and your sister dies young you will regret it for the rest of your life. But seeing your sister live a full life because of you will make you happy.
 
I don't think I could do it. I would love to say I could, but I don't think when it came to it I could stand up and say yes.

I don't know, maybe in the same situation.

You are a brave man Mike, Good luck.
 
If you are a 'match', as a sibling you will be a significantly better match than a random member of the population who is also a 'match'. This is because tissue-typing looks at a number of variants which have the biggest effect on rejection, but ignores a number of minor variants in between. A sibling who shares the major antigens will also share the minor ones, an unrelated person will not.
 
As one who is very close to the kidney transplant world what you are contemplating doing is a very brave and wonderful thing. In a similar situation my medical history precluded me donating but having met two wonderfulk mums and one marvellous son who were donors, and the recipients, I say go for it but only if you and your medical advisers think that it is the thing to do FOR YOU.

It is not something to be taken lightly and if, for whatever reason you decide against it, the decision is yours and it is the right one. Whatever you decide you have my support and admiration for even contemplating such a truly wonderful thing.

Another wonderful thing that many can undertake is to give blood. Both my wife and daughter are alive today because of those wonderful people who regularly donate blood.
 
The blood bit seems to be a no no.
Worked in Africa, Mid East and Far East too long. Last time I went to a blood letting session they said thank you BUT no thank you. Scary really!!
 
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