Becoming an organ donor is one of the most selfless acts a person can make. It’s a chance to give someone the most precious gift there is. More time, more memories, more life. Whether it’s a friend, a family member or a stranger, your decision can be the reason someone gets to hope again.
Living Donor Transplant at UofL Health – Trager Transplant Center
At UofL Health – Trager Transplant Center, we specialize in living kidney donation, and are committed to making the process as easy and safe as possible. Our surgeons use minimally invasive techniques, which result in shorter hospital stays and a quicker recovery time.
For those facing end-stage kidney disease, a living donor is their best option for more time.
There are three main ways to donate your kidney:
- Directed kidney donation – Occurs when a living donor identifies an intended recipient. This is the most common type of donation and consists mainly of family members or close friends of the recipient.
- Non-directed (altruistic) kidney donation – Occurs when a living donor wishes to donate a kidney but does not identify an intended recipient.
- Paired kidney donation – Occurs when a donor and their intended recipient aren’t a match, but the donor still wants to help. In this case, they can swap kidneys with another pair in the same situation. Paired donation has the potential to create chains of multiple donors and recipient combinations within our transplant center or across different health care organizations.
If you are interested in donating your kidney, please complete this referral form.
Already approved as a living kidney donor? Learn more about our Living Kidney Donor Transplant Program.
Have questions about becoming a living donor? Talk to one of our team members by calling 502-587-4358. You can also view our list of donor resources here.
Benefits of Living Kidney Donation
Some benefits of living kidney donation are:
- The organ lasts longer than one from a deceased donor
- Shorter wait time for a new organ
- Donors don’t pay out-of-pocket for evaluation, surgery or follow-up care
- Should a donor need a kidney transplant later on, they are awarded additional points on the waiting list
Living Kidney Donor Eligibility
To be considered a candidate for living donation, the donor must:
- Be between the ages of 18-74
- Be in good general health
- Undergo a screening process
If a candidate meets these criteria, they will be reviewed by the Living Donor Selection Committee. This committee will determine whether the donor meets all the selection criteria established by the transplant center.
Certain medical conditions may disqualify a person from donating. However, every donor will be considered on an individual basis, so it’s important for each donor to discuss their medical history with the transplant team.
Register to Become an Organ Donor
In addition to transplantation, Trager Transplant Center is actively involved with efforts to increase awareness of the need for organ donation. Unfortunately, due to the lack of donated organs, many people never receive lifesaving transplants.
Although you may never need a transplant, you can pass on the gift of life by registering to become an organ donor today.
