Common questions
Did you know?
The most common causes for declining possible living kidney donors are:
For these reasons, having multiple volunteers is key to finding a donor. |
Do kidneys from living donors typically last longer than from deceased donors?
Kidneys from living donors typically work better and last longer. A kidney from a deceased donor lasts an average of 7 to 10 years. A kidney from a living donor lasts an average of 15 to 20 years.
Is the kidney donor uncomfortable or in pain for about 3-4 months after surgery?
A kidney donor will have some pain after surgery from the incisions, and from gas and bloating. This pain will decrease in the days after surgery and can be controlled with Tylenol and pain medicine, if needed. Recovery takes at least 6 weeks.
Do kidney donors have to take medicine for the rest of their lives?
Kidney donors will only need pain medicine for a short period after donation, typically between 1-2 weeks. They will not need to be on any medications long-term because of donating.
Must a kidney donor be under the age of 60?
A healthy person over the age of 60 can be a living donor and have no problems from surgery. The kidney from a donor older than 60 can work very well.
Does a kidney donor have to permanently follow a special diet after donation?
Kidney donors do not need to follow a special diet after donating. They are encouraged to follow a healthy, well-balanced diet, similar to people who aren’t donors.
Does a kidney donor have to have the same blood type as me?
Kidney donors do not have to be the same blood type as the recipient. There are several combinations of blood types that are compatible with each other. If a donor isn’t compatible with me, there are exchange programs that can swap donors and recipients to ensure that each recipient receives a healthy, living donor kidney. My blood type is O-positive.
What is the timeline for needing a kidney transplant?
How long a person stays fairly healthy on dialysis is on a case-by-case basis. There's no timeline. It depends on how long my kidneys can remain functional on dialysis. When my kidneys start to deteriorate further and no donor's kidney is available, I'll reach end-stage renal disease. Death usually occurs within a few weeks. This can be longer or shorter, depending on my overall health. I'm hoping things will not come to this.
Who cannot be a living kidney donor?
Can I change my mind after I decided to become a living donor?
Yes, you can change your mind at any time during the process, and your decision will be respected by the health care team. Speak to the social worker, counsellor or any member of the health care team at the transplant center. They will support your decision and help you to communicate this decision to the recipient, and family members, in a way that preserves harmony.
Does filling out the form automatically make me an organ donor?
No. 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.
What happens after I send in my form?
If multiple donors have come forward, the hospital will contact the most suitable donor to proceed. They evaluate one donor at a time for each recipient. 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.
Does being a living kidney donor shorten my lifespan?
Being an organ donor has no effect on your life expectancy. A beneficial outcome for everyone concerned is ensured as part of the screening procedure for potential donors.
Can I still get pregnant after being a kidney donor?
Being an organ donor doesn't affect reproductive or sexual health.
Are there financial supports available for living donors?
Trillium Gift of Life Rreimbrusement Program: The Program for Reimbursing Expenses of Living Organ Donors (PRELOD) reimburses up to $5,500 for qualified expenses such as travel, parking, transit, meals, and lodging, as well as a loss of income subsidy.
Sick Leave Coverage for Employees: Check with your employer about your sick leave coverage through their health plan policies. Donors who work often qualify for sick leave.
Was there no one in the family who was a match?
Accepting or denying living kidney donors should ultimately be determined by whether the benefit outweighs the risk for both the donor and the recipient. The existence of medical issues is the most common cause for declining a possible living kidney donor. This means that a family member can fail the medical tests just as easily as a stranger—having multiple volunteers is key to finding a donor.
Is it possible to speak to someone who has been a living kidney donor so I can decide if I want to volunteer?
Yes. You can speak to former donors from the Centre for Living Organ Donation. Former donors will share their personal stories and answer questions.
What else should I know?
For more details and a link to the donor form, go to the "Become a Living Kidney Donor" page.
Kidneys from living donors typically work better and last longer. A kidney from a deceased donor lasts an average of 7 to 10 years. A kidney from a living donor lasts an average of 15 to 20 years.
Is the kidney donor uncomfortable or in pain for about 3-4 months after surgery?
A kidney donor will have some pain after surgery from the incisions, and from gas and bloating. This pain will decrease in the days after surgery and can be controlled with Tylenol and pain medicine, if needed. Recovery takes at least 6 weeks.
Do kidney donors have to take medicine for the rest of their lives?
Kidney donors will only need pain medicine for a short period after donation, typically between 1-2 weeks. They will not need to be on any medications long-term because of donating.
Must a kidney donor be under the age of 60?
A healthy person over the age of 60 can be a living donor and have no problems from surgery. The kidney from a donor older than 60 can work very well.
Does a kidney donor have to permanently follow a special diet after donation?
Kidney donors do not need to follow a special diet after donating. They are encouraged to follow a healthy, well-balanced diet, similar to people who aren’t donors.
Does a kidney donor have to have the same blood type as me?
Kidney donors do not have to be the same blood type as the recipient. There are several combinations of blood types that are compatible with each other. If a donor isn’t compatible with me, there are exchange programs that can swap donors and recipients to ensure that each recipient receives a healthy, living donor kidney. My blood type is O-positive.
What is the timeline for needing a kidney transplant?
How long a person stays fairly healthy on dialysis is on a case-by-case basis. There's no timeline. It depends on how long my kidneys can remain functional on dialysis. When my kidneys start to deteriorate further and no donor's kidney is available, I'll reach end-stage renal disease. Death usually occurs within a few weeks. This can be longer or shorter, depending on my overall health. I'm hoping things will not come to this.
Who cannot be a living kidney donor?
- Person younger than 18 years of age
- Confirmed diagnosis of Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes
- History of Melanoma (a type of skin cancer). Donor candidates with a history of squamous cell and basal cell carcinoma can proceed with the evaluation.
- Body Mass Index (BMI) greater than 35 kg/m2. Calculate your BMI.
- History of heart bypass surgery, heart attack, cardiac stents or a stroke
Can I change my mind after I decided to become a living donor?
Yes, you can change your mind at any time during the process, and your decision will be respected by the health care team. Speak to the social worker, counsellor or any member of the health care team at the transplant center. They will support your decision and help you to communicate this decision to the recipient, and family members, in a way that preserves harmony.
Does filling out the form automatically make me an organ donor?
No. 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.
What happens after I send in my form?
If multiple donors have come forward, the hospital will contact the most suitable donor to proceed. They evaluate one donor at a time for each recipient. 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.
Does being a living kidney donor shorten my lifespan?
Being an organ donor has no effect on your life expectancy. A beneficial outcome for everyone concerned is ensured as part of the screening procedure for potential donors.
Can I still get pregnant after being a kidney donor?
Being an organ donor doesn't affect reproductive or sexual health.
Are there financial supports available for living donors?
Trillium Gift of Life Rreimbrusement Program: The Program for Reimbursing Expenses of Living Organ Donors (PRELOD) reimburses up to $5,500 for qualified expenses such as travel, parking, transit, meals, and lodging, as well as a loss of income subsidy.
Sick Leave Coverage for Employees: Check with your employer about your sick leave coverage through their health plan policies. Donors who work often qualify for sick leave.
Was there no one in the family who was a match?
Accepting or denying living kidney donors should ultimately be determined by whether the benefit outweighs the risk for both the donor and the recipient. The existence of medical issues is the most common cause for declining a possible living kidney donor. This means that a family member can fail the medical tests just as easily as a stranger—having multiple volunteers is key to finding a donor.
Is it possible to speak to someone who has been a living kidney donor so I can decide if I want to volunteer?
Yes. You can speak to former donors from the Centre for Living Organ Donation. Former donors will share their personal stories and answer questions.
What else should I know?
- It's a myth that only one special individual can offer to be a living organ donor.
Find out to learn why. - A life-saving transplant is scheduled at a time convenient for the donor and with minimal waiting time for the recipient.
- Provides an opportunity for the donor to give "the gift of life," with a faster return to good health and a good quality of life for the recipient.
- Removes a person from the deceased kidney wait list and increases the number of organs available for transplant.
- Donors gain deep satisfaction from their act of kindness and generosity.
- Not all transplants are successful but a living donor's kidney has superior health results for the recipient than a deceased donor's kidney.
- Every living donor kidney donation reduces the number of people on the deceased donor waiting list.
- Kidney donation is a major operation; though living donors are in good health, there are risks related to having surgery. The donor team will talk to you about the risks involved.
- The evaluation requires multiple visits to hospital for careful assessments
For more details and a link to the donor form, go to the "Become a Living Kidney Donor" page.