Become a Living Kidney Donor
A living kidney donor must always be a voluntary choice, one that you make without pressure from others. Knowing the facts will help you decide if this option is the right choice for you. Additionally, filling out a form doesn't automatically mean you'll be a kidney donor. The health requirements are rigorous. A volunteer donor will be assessed and tested comprehensively and in the end, may not even qualify to donate.
It's a myth that only one special individual can offer to be a living organ donor.
Find out to learn why.
Find out to learn why.
One donor at a time for each recipient is evaluated. If several donors come forward at the same time, the donor who is most likely to be my match will be tested first. If this donor is deemed unsuitable by the living donor team, then another donor will be tested. For privacy reasons, no information is provided to me with any information about potential donors, including how many people have submitted applications.
The Unity Health Network's Living Donor Program will walk you through the process.
The program will:
The transplant program is located at the St. Michael's Hospital. St. Michael’s Hospital, affectionately known as the "Urban Angel", is a Catholic teaching and research hospital located in downtown Toronto. Renowned for its exceptional patient care, St. Michael’s serves as the city’s adult trauma center and is a leader in specialized fields such as neurosurgery, complex cardiac and cardiovascular care, diabetes and osteoporosis management, minimally invasive surgery, and care for the homeless and disadvantaged. Fully affiliated with the University of Toronto and home to the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, the hospital is also a cornerstone of medical education, training health-care professionals across 29 academic disciplines.
While St. Michael’s was founded by the Catholic Church, it is important to note that the hospital provides care to "all individuals", regardless of their religious beliefs or background. Its mission is rooted in compassion and inclusivity, ensuring that everyone in need receives the highest standard of medical treatment. The hospital’s Catholic heritage inspires its commitment to serving the most vulnerable, but its doors are open to people from all walks of life, reflecting the diverse community it serves in downtown Toronto.
Established in 1969, the St. Michael’s Kidney Transplant Program stands as one of Canada’s largest and most comprehensive adult kidney transplant programs. The program actively monitors hundreds of patients at any given time through its post-transplant ambulatory clinic, providing ongoing care and support to ensure the best possible outcomes for transplant recipients.
Information for Living Donors
The Unity Health Network's Living Donor Program will walk you through the process.
The program will:
- Carefully assess and test donors to see if they can donate;
- Educate donors about the transplant process; and
- Provide exceptional patient care at all stages of the transplant journey.
The transplant program is located at the St. Michael's Hospital. St. Michael’s Hospital, affectionately known as the "Urban Angel", is a Catholic teaching and research hospital located in downtown Toronto. Renowned for its exceptional patient care, St. Michael’s serves as the city’s adult trauma center and is a leader in specialized fields such as neurosurgery, complex cardiac and cardiovascular care, diabetes and osteoporosis management, minimally invasive surgery, and care for the homeless and disadvantaged. Fully affiliated with the University of Toronto and home to the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, the hospital is also a cornerstone of medical education, training health-care professionals across 29 academic disciplines.
While St. Michael’s was founded by the Catholic Church, it is important to note that the hospital provides care to "all individuals", regardless of their religious beliefs or background. Its mission is rooted in compassion and inclusivity, ensuring that everyone in need receives the highest standard of medical treatment. The hospital’s Catholic heritage inspires its commitment to serving the most vulnerable, but its doors are open to people from all walks of life, reflecting the diverse community it serves in downtown Toronto.
Established in 1969, the St. Michael’s Kidney Transplant Program stands as one of Canada’s largest and most comprehensive adult kidney transplant programs. The program actively monitors hundreds of patients at any given time through its post-transplant ambulatory clinic, providing ongoing care and support to ensure the best possible outcomes for transplant recipients.
Information for Living Donors
Did you know? A living donor kidney transplant lasts, on average, 21 years, compared to 11 years for a deceased donor kidney transplant.
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Did you know? More than 3,000 Canadians are on a waiting list for kidney transplantation.
Patients with end stage kidney disease often wait many years for a kidney transplant from a deceased donor. A living kidney donor may decrease this wait time. |
